Turkey launched a new ground and air cross-border operation against suspected Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) bases in Duhok province, the Turkish defense minister announced early on Monday.
Turkish jets and artillery struck PKK targets consisting of “shelters, bunkers, caves, tunnels, ammunition depots and a so-called headquarter belonging to the terrorist organization,” Hulusi Akar said.
Dubbed Claw-Lock, the new operation is aimed at PKK hideouts in Metina, Zap, Avashin and Basyan areas, he added.
The PKK earlier on Monday claimed that “tens” of Turkish helicopters targeted the PKK-entrenched Zap area as Ankara attempts “to land its troops there,” reported media affiliated to the armed group Roj News, adding that the helicopters were flying from bases within the Kurdistan Region.