The Turkish Ministry of Defense announced the killing of 17 PKK militants in clashes with them in northern Iraq and Syria. The Turkish Defense Ministry stated in a statement today, Friday, that groups of PKK militants opened fire on positions of Turkish army units in the areas of Hakurk and Kara in northern Iraq, which are in charge of 'Claw Lock ' operations. After an exchange of fire, the soldiers of those units were able to kill ten of them, while the rest fled. It indicated in its statement that the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) takes the Qandil Mountains in northern Iraq as its stronghold, and is active in many cities, regions and valleys, from which it launches attacks inside Turkey. It is noteworthy that the Turkish army had carried out a large military operation on April 18, 2021, and it is still continuing, called Claw Lock, against the strongholds of the Kurdistan Workers' Party in the areas of Matina, Al-Zab, Afshin, Bazian, and the Qandil mountain range in northern Iraq. On the other hand, t he Turkish Defense Ministry stated in its statement that Turkish army units stationed in the Olive Branch and Peace Spring regions in northern Syria were able to kill 7 militants of the Kurdish People's Protection Units affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers' Party during armed clashes today, Friday. Source: National Iraqi News Agency