Türkiye has managed to get rid of nearly all PKK terrorists from Zap area in northern Iraq, in keeping with National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar.
A complete of 506 terrorists have been neutralized since Türkiye launched Operation Claw-Lock, a cross-border anti-terrorism offensive, final April, Akar instructed reporters after a Cabinet assembly within the capital Ankara on Monday.
“Operation Claw-Lock has reached a certain stage. The Zap area has been largely cleared of terrorists,” he mentioned.
“With this operation, a 302-kilometer (187-mile) line along the Iraqi border has been secured.”
Turkish forces destroyed practically 600 caves and terrorist shelters within the area, in keeping with Akar, together with greater than 2,000 mines and handmade explosives.
Some 1,174 weapons and 533,275 rounds of ammunition had been seized, he mentioned.
Akar reaffirmed Türkiye’s respect for the borders, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of all neighbors, particularly Iraq and Syria.
“Our only objective is the defense and security of our nation. That is what we are working for, and we will do whatever needs to be done.”
With Operation Claw-Lock, Turkish forces focused the PKK terror group’s hideouts in Iraq’s northern Metina, Zap, and Avasin-Basyan areas, close to the Turkish border.
It was preceded by two operations-Claw-Tiger and Claw-Eagle-launched in 2020.
In its greater than 35-year terror marketing campaign in opposition to Türkiye, the PKK-listed as a terrorist group by Türkiye, the U.S., and EU-has been answerable for the deaths of greater than 40,000 folks, together with ladies, youngsters, and infants.
LONDON VISIT
Akar, who was in London final week, denied reviews of Türkiye placing a cope with the UK to purchase Type 23 frigates.
“There is nothing definite so far,” he mentioned, emphasizing that his journey to the UK and talks with British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace had been a part of common bilateral engagements.
On Türkiye’s command of NATO’s Response Force Maritime Component, which runs by Jan. 31 subsequent 12 months, Akar mentioned all actions can be carried out as deliberate.
