Image source: topwar.ru
On Monday, April 18, the Turkish Armed Forces launched an invasion in northern Iraq, dubbed Operation Claw-Lock. According to Ankara's official statements, the actions of the military are exclusively preventive in nature and are aimed at preventing the likely seizure of Turkish territories by supporters of the Kurdistan Workers' Party. The latter is recognized as a terrorist organization in Turkey.
Recall that the confrontation between Ankara and the PKK has been going on since 1984. The Kurds do not give up trying to defend the political rights of their people and create their own autonomy within Turkey (ethnic Kurds account for 20% of the total population of the country).
The Turkish Air Force and special forces are involved in the operation "Claw-Castle". Turkey's invasion of northern Iraq began with an artillery and airstrike on fortifications, warehouses and other military facilities of the PKK. Then the landing took place under the cover of helicopters and UAVs.
Ankara says that the plans for the first stage of the operation have been fulfilled. Key targets have been taken under control by the Turkish military. However, the mission will continue until the last terrorist is destroyed.
Earlier it was reported that the Turkish military killed 19 PKK fighters.
The head of the Turkish military department, Hulusi Akar, emphasizes that his country respects the sovereignty of Iraq. The operation is aimed at eliminating the terrorist threat. The Turkish military is trying to minimize the threat to civilians, as well as religious and cultural sites of the neighboring state.
However, it is possible that Turkey's invasion in northern Iraq may also be of a political nature. On Friday, April 15, just three days before the start of the operation, Turkish leader Recep Erdogan met with the Prime Minister of the regional government of autonomous Kurdistan (KRG) of Iraq, Masrour Barzani, who is also not averse to getting rid of opponents in the face of the PKK. At the same time, Ankara and the KRG have long had close cooperation in the fields of energy trade and investment.
It is noteworthy that almost no one in the world has raised the issue of violation of international law by Turkey, the invasion of an independent state. No one imposes sanctions, American and European companies do not announce their departure. Or again, "you don't understand, this is different."..
