The Turkish Ministry of Defence announced on Wednesday that five PKK militants were killed in an air operation conducted in the Gara region of northern Iraq.

The operation is part of Türkiye's ongoing efforts to target PKK hideouts in the region, which the ministry described as "terrorist lairs." 

In an official statement, the ministry said: "Our heroic Turkish Armed Forces continue to destroy terrorist lairs in northern Iraq. Five PKK terrorists detected in the Gara region in northern Iraq were neutralised with an air operation." The statement emphasized the military's commitment to combating terrorism, adding, "We will continue to strike terrorist targets effectively." 

The term "neutralised" is commonly used by Turkish authorities to indicate that the individuals were either killed, injured, or captured. In this context, the ministry confirmed that the five PKK members were killed in the operation. 

The PKK, designated as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union, has been engaged in a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state, primarily in southeastern Türkiye and northern Iraq. Türkiye has intensified its military operations in northern Iraq in recent years, targeting PKK bases in the mountainous border regions, including Gara, which has been a focal point of such operations. 

The Turkish Armed Forces regularly conduct cross-border air and ground operations to disrupt PKK activities, aiming to prevent attacks on Turkish soil and dismantle the group's infrastructure. The ministry's statement underscores Türkiye's determination to continue these efforts as part of its broader counterterrorism strategy. 

This latest operation comes amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing security challenges. The Turkish government has repeatedly vowed to eliminate the PKK threat, emphasizing the importance of protecting national security and regional stability. Further details on the operation, including the specific timing and additional outcomes, were not immediately disclosed by the ministry. (ILKHA)