Turkish MoD: 3 soldiers killed, 4 wounded in northern Iraq
Following Erdogan's announcement of a "military operation" in northern Iraq, the Turkish Defense Ministry confirms casualties on the first day.
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Turkish Defense Ministry
Three Turkish soldiers were killed and four others were wounded in northern Iraq during Turkey's offensive against the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK), a Defense Ministry statement confirmed.
Turkey's official news agency Anadolu said the Turkish soldiers had clashed with fighters from the PKK, which Ankara and its western allies deem a "terrorist" organization.
Ankara has launched a series of operations against the PKK in Iraq and Syria, the latest one in northern Iraq beginning in April.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Monday that Turkey will begin a "military operation" at the country’s borders to establish 30 km deep buffer zones, adding that the final decision will be made soon.
"We will continue securing our borders amid the ongoing attacks. New operations will be launched on our borders soon, and appropriate decisions will be made at a meeting of the Security Council," Erdogan claimed in his address to the nation.
Since 2016, Turkey has launched three offensives into northern Syria against the People's Protection Units (YPG) - a group it considers to be part of the PKK.
