Turkey is battling PKK forces based in northern Iraq, most recently launching ‘Operation Claw-Lock’ in April.
Four Turkish soldiers were killed in a clash with warplanes in northern Iraq, according to a statement by the Turkish Defense Ministry.
The ministry said late Sunday that the incident happened in an area where Turkey is conducting a cross-border operation called Claw-Lock.
Operations in the area are still ongoing, the ministry statement added.
Turkey regularly conducts operations in Iraq, which lies on its southern border, as part of an offensive against members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) based in the Kurdish region of the country. northern Iraq.
The PKK launched an armed uprising against the Turkish state in 1984, first demanding independence and more recently autonomy. More than 40,000 people were killed in the conflict.
Turkey launched Operation Claw-Lock in April targeted PKK hideouts in northern Iraq.
The PKK is considered a “terrorist” group by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.
Ankara’s military operations in northern Iraq have been criticized by the Iraqi government, which accuses Turkey of disrespecting Iraq’s territorial integrity.
Iraqi authorities say Turkey has “flagrantly violated” Iraq’s sovereignty and summoned Ankara’s ambassador to Baghdad after a attack on a resort in the Duhok province of northern Iraq in July was blamed on Turkey.
The attack left eight people dead.
Turkey denies responsibility and says the attack was carried out by “terrorists”.
