Two Turkish soldiers killed by an explosive device in northern Iraq

Turkish Army “neutralizes” seven PKK members in retaliation for alleged mortar attacks

June 12 (EUROPA PRESS) –

At least two Turkish soldiers have died this Sunday during an operation against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in northern Iraq, after being wounded by an explosive device, for which they succumbed to their injuries in hospital.

The Turkish Ministry of Defense, which has reported the death of its soldiers, has blamed the attack on the PKK, which appears on the list of terrorist organizations in the country, in the United States and in the European Union.

Subsequently, Ankara has reported that it has “neutralized” – meaning that it has been killed, wounded or captured in the operation – seven members of the PKK, after this group carried out mortar attacks against a military base and a police precinct.

“The places where the attack was carried out were determined and the Turkish Armed Forces immediately began to strike hard. According to preliminary figures, seven terrorists, including two alleged managers of the terrorist organization, were neutralized and an alleged headquarters was destroyed.” , reads a statement.

Turkey announced in mid-April 2022 the start of a new offensive against the PKK in Iraqi Kurdistan, in northern Iraq, which was described by Baghdad as a “threat to national security”, given that the operations were not being coordinated.

The Turkish army has also frequently carried out military operations against the PKK and its allies in northern Syria — mainly the Syrian Kurdish militia People’s Protection Units (YPG) — since the ceasefire between the government and the group was broken. armed in July 2015.