Minister vows continued fight against terrorism in Iraq's north

Defense Minister Yaşar Güler has insisted that Turkish troops will remain in northern Iraq until the terror threat, particularly from the PKK, is eliminated.

"Everyone knows that Türkiye needs to move to another phase [in the fight against terrorism]," Güler said during a gathering with reporters in the capital Ankara on March 10.

The minister said the fight against terrorism is a critical obstacle to the country's progress.

"Our fight will not end until we close the security lock and the north of Iraq is cleared of terrorists," Güler said, referring to the ongoing operation in the region dubbed Claw-Lock.

The PKK is designated a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States and the European Union. Its recent deadly attacks on Turkish troops in northern Iraq spurred Ankara to intensify its Claw operations, a series of offensives since 2019, specifically targeting the PKK.

The PKK maintains bases in the region, where its leadership has a foothold.

Güler's stance echoes recent comments by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan that Türkiye aimed to address the challenges posed by the PKK's presence in northern Iraq by this summer.

"We are about to complete the [security] circle to secure our Iraqi border. We will permanently resolve the matter concerning our Iraqi border this summer," Erdoğan said after a weekly cabinet meeting earlier this month.

The president has also advocated establishing a 30-40 kilometer security zone along the border to prevent future attacks.

"Because this is the distance where terrorists have settled and can threaten our country," Güler said, explaining the rationale behind the proposed corridor. "If we keep terrorists at least 30-40 kilometers away from our borders, our nation...