00:00 Turkey conducted air strikes on multiple locations in Syria and northern Iraq, allegedly linked
00:08 to Kurdish groups in response to the deaths of nine Turkish soldiers in an attack on a
00:13 military base in Iraq.
00:15 The defence ministry stated that the air strikes targeted 29 locations, including caves, bunkers,
00:20 shelters and oil installations associated with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party
00:26 and the People's Protection Unit, a Syrian Kurdish group.
00:30 The YPG, i.e. the People's Protection Unit, has been a key part of the US-allied coalition
00:35 against ISIS.
00:36 Turkey, considering the PKK a terrorist organization, frequently carries out attacks on locations
00:42 in Syria and Iraq associated with the group.
00:44 The defence ministry reported that the air strikes aimed to eliminate terrorist threats
00:48 against Turkish people and security forces while securing border areas.
00:52 The statement mentioned the neutralization of many armed fighters, indicating either
00:57 capture or killing.
00:59 The recent attack on a military base in Iraq resulted in the deaths of nine Turkish soldiers,
01:03 with 15 attackers also reported killed.
01:06 The PKK has not issued an immediate comment, and Iraq has previously protested Turkey's
01:11 troop presence in the region.
01:13 Turkey, under Operation Claw Lock, since April 2022, established bases in Iraq's Duhok governorate,
01:20 facing objections from the Iraqi government.
01:22 Turkey's foreign minister expressed determination to fight against the PKK, and President Recep
01:27 Tayyip Erdogan planned a security meeting in Istanbul following the retaliation.
01:31 Three weeks prior, PKK-affiliated fighters attempted to breach a Turkish base in northern
01:36 Iraq, resulting in six soldiers' deaths.
01:39 In response, Turkey launched attacks on PKK-associated sites.
01:42 Turkey and the US have disagreements regarding the status of Syrian Kurdish groups.
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