Türkiye Strikes 71 Targets, Neutralizes 59 Kurdish Fighters in Syria and Northern Iraq

A photo published by the Turkish Ministry of Defense transporting the bodies of six of its soldiers who were killed in northern Iraq.
A photo published by the Turkish Ministry of Defense transporting the bodies of six of its soldiers who were killed in northern Iraq.
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Türkiye Strikes 71 Targets, Neutralizes 59 Kurdish Fighters in Syria and Northern Iraq

A photo published by the Turkish Ministry of Defense transporting the bodies of six of its soldiers who were killed in northern Iraq.
A photo published by the Turkish Ministry of Defense transporting the bodies of six of its soldiers who were killed in northern Iraq.

Türkiye has hit 71 sites linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and the Syrian Kurdish (YPG) in Syria and northern Iraq during airstrikes launched this week in retaliation for the deaths of 12 Turkish soldiers in Iraq.

At least 59 Kurdish militants were killed in the strikes as well as in land clashes, Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler said in a video message to top military officials which was posted on X, formerly Twitter.

"As we have consistently emphasized, our fight against terrorism will continue until the last terrorist is neutralized," he noted.

Turkish intelligence reported Tuesday that Ankara has destroyed nearly 50 facilities belonging to the PKK in Qamishli, Kobane, and Amuda. Security sources said that the intelligence targets the infrastructure of PKK and SDF.

The intelligence operations have contributed to eliminating the threats near the borders and disrupting the operations goals as well as the PKK and SDF capabilities to carry out attacks against Türkiye.

During the past two days, the Turkish army has conducted drone raids against more than 20 vital military locations in Qamishli and Amuda.

Moreover, the Turkish Ministry of National Defense announced the eradication of four YPG members in an operation conducted by the elite forces in the areas of Operation Peace Spring and Operation Olive Branch in northeastern Syria.

They had attempted to destabilize the security in both areas.

As part of the retaliation for the killing of 12 Turkish soldiers, Turkish intelligence revealed Wednesday the killing of Zeynep Evri from the Workers’ Party - nicknamed Arin Ari - in an operation in Sulaymaniyah in northern Iraq.

Security sources told Anadolu Agency that Evri was responsible for “terrorist women activities” on the Iranian-Iraqi borders.

Evri was preparing to launch attacks on Turkish military bases in northern Iraq, according to the sources.

This is the third operation for the Turkish intelligence in Sulaymaniyah in three days.



Iraq, UK Agree on Trade Package Worth up to $15 Billion, Defense Deal

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (R) and Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (L) shake hands during their meeting in Downing Street in London, Britain, 14 January 2025. (EPA)
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (R) and Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (L) shake hands during their meeting in Downing Street in London, Britain, 14 January 2025. (EPA)
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Iraq, UK Agree on Trade Package Worth up to $15 Billion, Defense Deal

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (R) and Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (L) shake hands during their meeting in Downing Street in London, Britain, 14 January 2025. (EPA)
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (R) and Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (L) shake hands during their meeting in Downing Street in London, Britain, 14 January 2025. (EPA)

Iraq and Britain have agreed on a trade package worth up to 12.3 billion pounds ($14.98 billion) and a bilateral defense deal, the Iraqi and British prime ministers said in a joint statement on Tuesday.

The deal, envisaging more than 10 times the total of bilateral trade in 2024, was announced after a meeting between Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and British counterpart Keir Starmer at the latter's Downing Street offices.

It includes a 1.2-billion-pound project in which British-made power transmission systems will be used for a grid interconnection project between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, as well as a 500-million-pound plan to upgrade the Al-Qayyarah air base in northern Iraq.

A water infrastructure project by a UK-led consortium that will help provide clean water in arid southern and western Iraq is also part of the deal, the statement said. The project would be worth up to 5.3 billion pounds in UK exports.

Sudani and Starmer also signed a defense deal that "establishes the basis for a new era in security cooperation".

Sudani said earlier that the UK-Iraqi security deal would develop bilateral military ties after last year's announcement that the US-led coalition set up to fight ISIS would end its work in Iraq in 2026.

The Iraqi premier began an official visit to the United Kingdom on Monday amid historic geopolitical shifts in the Middle East.

Iraq is trying to avoid becoming a conflict zone once again amid a period of regional upheaval that has seen Iran's allies Hamas degraded in Gaza and Hezbollah battered in Lebanon during wars with Israel, and Bashar al-Assad toppled in Syria.