Iraq: Five Turkish soldiers killed in fighting with the PKK

A member of the PKK in front of the crater left by a Turkish bombardment, in Qandil, in the north of Iraq.

(illustrative image) AFP PHOTO / SAFIN HAMED

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

While Ankara threatens to launch a new offensive against the Kurdish movement of the PKK in Syria, it is in Iraq, in the neighboring country, that five Turkish soldiers were killed Tuesday, May 24 in battles with the PKK.

The Kurdistan Workers' Party has taken refuge in this neighboring country and clashes with Ankara are permanent there.

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According to the Turkish Defense Ministry, the five soldiers killed on Tuesday were taking part in a military operation in Iraq against PKK rebels.

Two of their comrades were also injured.

Last weekend, Turkish drone fire killed 7 people, including 3 civilians in northern Iraq.

A major operation was

last April in northern Iraq against PKK bases and training camps in Iraqi Kurdisan.

For several decades, Ankara has been increasing operations against the national enemy: the Kurdistan Workers' Party.

A terrorist organization in the eyes of Europe and the United States which has extended its influence throughout the Kurdish territory interspersed between Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran. 

In Iraq, the PKK has strengthened its collaboration with certain pro-Iranian militias.

The latter have long rejected the presence of Turkish forces in the north of the country in the name of Iraqi sovereignty.

According to a Pentagon report, these armed groups have carried out rocket attacks with the help of the PKK against Turkish positions in Syrian and Iraqi territory in recent months.

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• Iraq

• Turkey

• Kurds