‘Türkiye will take further steps if Iraq’s PUK party fails to change stance on PKK terrorists’
ANKARA (AA) – Türkiye will take additional steps if one of the government parties in northern Iraq’s Kurdish region fails to change its supportive attitude towards PKK members, the Turkish foreign minister has said.
“We will not hesitate to take further measures if the PUK does not change its supportive attitude towards the PKK despite our sanctions against Sulaymaniyah in Iraq,” said Hakan Fidan, speaking of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) party, the junior partner in the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG).
Addressing the Turkish parliament, Fidan said a consultation process with Iraqi authorities continues.
He reiterated that Türkiye will not leave the separatist group any place to feel safe along its borders or elsewhere.
Fidan’s remarks came in the wake of alleged PKK attacks in recent days taking the lives of 21 Turkish soldiers, followed by fierce Turkish attacks on targets in northern Iraq and Syria.
Türkiye launched Operation Claw-Lock in April 2022 to target the PKK’s hideouts in Iraq’s northern Metina, Zap, and Avasin-Basyan regions near the Turkish border.
It was preceded by Operations Claw-Tiger and Claw-Eagle launched in 2020 to root out the group’s presence from northern Turkiye.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
