Turkey has launched a military offensive into northern Iraq, which it says are aimed at attacking Kurdish 'terrorists'.
In a video posted by the Turkish defence minister Hulusi Akar, Turkish missiles and artillery can be seen striking what are alleged to be arms stores, bunkers, and command bases of Kurdish militants. The operation has been codenamed 'Operation Claw Lock' by the Turkish state.
There are no indications yet of how many casualties there have been in this new offensive.
Akar said in relation to the operation:
"Our operation is continuing successfully as planned. The targets identified in the first phase have been captured."
Adding:
"We are determined to save our noble nation from the terror misfortune that has plagued our country for 40 years. Our struggle will continue until the last terrorist is neutralised."
Turkey has confirmed that ground-forces, including specially trained commandos, are also involved in the operation.
The main force that Turkey claims to be combating is the far-left Kurdish nationalist group the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK). For almost 40 years the PKK and Turkish state have been embroiled in a bloody conflict over the attempt by the Kurdish people to set up their own independent nation. Kurdish people are found in northern Syria, northern Iraq, and south-eastern Turkey.
Since 2005 northern Iraq has been ruled by a semi-autonomous Kurdish state, while since 2014, the north of Syria, known as Rojava, has also been controlled by Kurds. In 2019 Turkey invaded Rojava and previously invaded Kurdish controlled northern-Iraq in 2008. The Turkish state fears that freedom for the Kurds in Iraq and Syria may spur on support for independence in Turkey or that these areas can be used as bases for militant attacks on the Turkish state.
The Turkish state is widely regarded as authoritarian and has become notorious for silencing and imprisoning journalists and committing human-rights abuses within Turkey and against the Kurdish population. The Turkish state under Recep Erdogan has also attempted to ban the democratic and HDP party, which campaigns peacefully for Kurdish civil rights.
[Based on reporting by: euronews.]
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