Ankara, Mar 20 (UNI) Turkish forces have conducted airstrikes against 27 targets of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in a cross-border operation in northern Iraq, the country's defence ministry said Tuesday.

"A total of 27 targets, including bunkers, shelters and caves, used by the terrorist organisation PKK in Metina, Zap, Hakurk, Gara and Qandil regions of northern Iraq were destroyed by air operations," the ministry said in a statement.

The operations came after the Turkish Defense Ministry announced Tuesday that one soldier was killed and four others were injured as a result of an infiltration and attack attempt by the PKK militants in the "Operation Claw-Lock" region in northern Iraq.
The Turkish security forces often conduct cross-border operations in northern Iraq, a region holding hideouts and bases of PKK militants, from where they carry out attacks against Turkiye.

The Turkish government launched Operation Claw-Lock in April 2022 to fight against the PKK in northern Iraq near the Turkish border.
The PKK, listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkiye, the United States, and the European Union, has rebelled against the Turkish government for more than three decades.
UNI/XINHUA ARN