Turkish forces are seen near Mount Barsaya, northeast of Afrin, Syria January 23, 2018. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi
On April 23, the Turkish Ministry of National Defense announced that another service member was killed while taking part in Operation Claw-Lock in northern Iraq.
In a statement, the ministry said that the service member, 1st Lt. Omer Delibas, was wounded in the Operation Claw-Lock zone due to a blast from an improvised explosive device. The officer succumbed to his injuries at a hospital despite all medical efforts.
“Due to this incident that drowns us in deep pain and sorrow, we wish Allah’s mercy upon our heroic martyr and offer our condolences and patience to his precious family, the Turkish Armed Forces and the nation,” the statement reads.
Turkey launched Operation Claw-Lock on April 17 to neutralize the remnants of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the areas of Metina, Zap and Avashin Basyan in the Kurdistan Region.
This was the fourth Turkish service member to be killed in Operation Claw-Lock. On April 22, Turkey said that three soldiers were killed in a “terror attack” in the operation zone.
PKK fighters in Metina, Zap and Avashin Basyan have been showing fierce resistance. On April 23, the Kurdish guerilla group released footage showing on of its female fighters engaging a number of Turkish military helicopters with its assault rifle.
The Turkish Ministry of National Defense claims that that at least 54 members of the PKK have been killed, wounded or captured since the beginning of Operation Claw-Lock.
Operation Claw-Lock operation caused some serious tensions between Turkey and Iraq. Despite this, Ankara appears to be determined to go on with the operation.
