Turkey has launched new military operation Claw-Tiger in the northern Iraqi region of Haftanin against forces of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and "other terrorist elements", the Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.
"#Operation Claw-Tiger is being carried out as part of our legitimate defense rights arising from international law oriented against the PKK and other terrorist elements that have recently attempted increased harassment and attacks on our police station and base areas," the ministry said, as cited by the Anadolu news agency.
#Pençe-Kaplan Operasyonu; son zamanlarda karakol ve üs bölgelerimize artan taciz ve saldırı teşebbüsünde bulunan PKK ve diğer terörist unsurlara yönelik olarak uluslararası hukuktan doğan meşru müdafaa haklarımız çerçevesinde icra edilmektedir.
— T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) June 16, 2020
Saat 02.25... Kara Kuvvetleri Harekat Merkezi’nden görüntüler...https://t.co/aoTynBjIRh pic.twitter.com/VHGMtcOj6Z
— T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) June 16, 2020
According to the ministry, Turkish forces have already entered Haftanin, and are supported by the Air Force, ATAK helicopters, UAVs and unmanned combat aerial vehicles.
Bakan Akar ve TSK Komuta Kademesi, başarıyla devam eden #Pençe-Kaplan Operasyonu’nu Kara Kuvvetleri Harekat Merkezi’nde sevk ve idare ediyor. pic.twitter.com/PLDCkv27H8
— T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) June 16, 2020
On Monday, Turkish air forces destroyed 81 targets of PKK in northern Iraq as part of another operation, Claw-Eagle. Iraqi Armed Forces and Foreign Ministry condemned Turkey’s operation for violations of Iraqi airspace.
Turkey considers the PKK a terrorist organization for staging attacks on the military and civilians.
