Claw-Lightning and Claw-Thunderbolt (Turkish: Pençe-Şimşek ve Pençe-Yıldırım Operasyonları) were Turkish Armed Forces cross border military operations in northern Iraq. The operations took place in the Metina, Zap and Avashin-Basyan regions against Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) targets, as part of the ongoing Kurdish–Turkish conflict.
| Operations Claw-Lightning and Thunderbolt | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Kurdish–Turkish conflict | |||||
| |||||
| Belligerents | |||||
 Kurdistan Region (from 6 June 2021) |
 Kurdistan Workers' Party | ||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||
|
Nechirvan Barzani |
Sofi Nurettin †[1] | ||||
| Units involved | |||||
|
| |||||
| Strength | |||||
|
Unknown |
Unknown | ||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||
|
6 killed7 wounded 2 captured[4][5] |
142 killed or captured (per Turkey)[6][7] | ||||
Operations
editThe operations began on the evening of 23 April 2021, with air and howitzer strikes targeting PKK positions in Northern Iraq. In the following hours of the strikes Turkish paratroopers and commandos airdropped from Chinook and Black Hawk helicopters to the points of Metina, Zap and Avashin-Basyan regions. Turkish Defense Ministry announced the "neutralization" of 142 militants and the destruction of 500 targets while announcing 12 killed of their own.[2][6][8]
Clashes between PKK and Peshmerga
editOn 6 June 2021, clashes occurred between Peshmerga and PKK resulting in the deaths of 5 Peshmerga. On 8 June 2021, 2 Peshmerga were kidnapped by PKK while another one was killed.[4][5]
Civilian impact
editThe operation is known to have impact on civilians, fleeing the operation area.[9]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Erdogan: High-ranking PKK militant killed in Iraq operation". Associated Press. 7 May 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- ^ a b Ergan, Uğur; Altuncu, Özgür (25 April 2021). "Komandolar Kuzey Irak'ta". Hürriyet. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
- ^ 7 killed (23 April–3 May),[1] 1 killed (9 May),[2] 1 killed (14 May),[3] 1 killed (23 May),[4] 1 killed (6 June),[5] 2 killed (28 July),[6] 4 killed (16 August),[7] 1 killed (12 September),[8] 3 killed (9 December),[9] total of 21 reported killed
- ^ a b "العراق.. مقتل وإصابة 10 من قوات البيشمركة في هجوم دهوك- (تغريدة)". Al Quds. 6 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- ^ a b "العمال-الكوردستاني" "استشهاد مقاتل في البيشمركة بيد "العمال الكوردستاني"". Kurdistan 24. 8 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- ^ a b "Son dakika haberi MSB: Pençe operasyonlarında 142 terörist öldürüldü". Haber Turk. 30 May 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- ^ "Terör yuvalarına 'Pençe' darbesi".
- ^ "A Turkish Soldier Killed in Northern Iraq". Islam Times Indonesia. 7 June 2021.
- ^ "No Return: The Civilian Impact of Turkey's Operation Claw-Lightning". Christian Peacemaker Teams - Iraqi Kurdistan. 3 June 2021. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
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