Turkey has intensified its military campaign against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) with a series of airstrikes targeting 20 locations in the Kurdistan Region's border areas, including Zap, Hakurk, Gara, Qandil, Asos, and Metina. These areas are known to harbor key PKK leaders, according to a statement by the Turkish National Defense Ministry.

The operation resulted in the destruction of 20 targets, including caves, bunkers, shelters, warehouses, and other facilities used by the PKK. The ministry, posting on the social media platform X, announced that a large number of PKK fighters were "neutralized" during the operation. In Turkish military terminology, "neutralize" typically refers to enemies being killed, captured, or surrendering.

Turkey's Defense Ministry emphasized that all necessary precautions were taken to avoid harm to civilians, allied forces, historical and cultural sites, and the environment during the airstrikes.

This latest military action is part of Turkey's ongoing Operation Claw-Lock, which was launched in April 2022. Defense Minister Yaşar Güler recently stated that the operation aims to sever the connections between PKK forces in Syria and the Qandil region and is expected to be completed before the onset of winter.

The PKK, which has been engaged in a four-decade-long conflict with Turkey, is classified as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, and the elderly, on both sides. The PKK is known to use the border regions of the Kurdistan Region as a base for planning and executing attacks against Turkey.

Turkey has reaffirmed its commitment to continuing its counter-terrorism efforts "with perseverance and determination" until "the last terrorist is neutralized."