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Turkish Soldier Killed, Six Injured in Northern Iraq Operations

The Turkish army regularly conducts cross-border operations and air raids against PKK bases in northern Iraq [File: Reuters]
The Turkish army regularly conducts cross-border operations and air raids against PKK bases in northern Iraq [File: Reuters]
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Turkish Soldier Killed, Six Injured in Northern Iraq Operations

The Turkish army regularly conducts cross-border operations and air raids against PKK bases in northern Iraq [File: Reuters]
The Turkish army regularly conducts cross-border operations and air raids against PKK bases in northern Iraq [File: Reuters]

Turkey’s Defense Ministry announced the death of one soldier and the injury of six others during the two military offensives launched on Friday against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) targets in northern Iraq.

Turkish forces attacked the PKK in Avasin-Basyan and Metina areas near Duhok’s border with Turkey, in two operations dubbed “Claw-Lightning” and “Claw-Thunderbolt.”

Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said Turkish forces neutralized 31 PKK elements in the new ground-and-air offensives.

He carried out an inspection visit to the 3rd Infantry Division Command in Yuksekova district of Turkey’s southeastern Hakkari province, accompanied by Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) commanders.

“Our fight is against all terrorists,” Akar stressed, noting that Turkey will continue launching “anti-terror operations” until the last terrorist is neutralized.

“So far, a total of 1,132 terror targets have been hit with our land fire support vehicles. Our Air Force also achieved great success as a whole, hitting 120 targets in total.”

The armed forces are determined to protect 84 million Turkish citizens from the threats posed by all terrorist organizations, Akar noted.

He highlighted PKK’s presence in northern Iraq, stressing that its elements continue to create hideouts in anticipation of an attack by the Turkish armed forces.

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Israeli Gunfire Hits Perimeter of UN Peacekeeping Post in Lebanon, UNIFIL Says

A post for UN peacekeepers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is pictured near the border with Israel, southern Lebanon, April 6, 2023. (Reuters)
A post for UN peacekeepers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is pictured near the border with Israel, southern Lebanon, April 6, 2023. (Reuters)
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Israeli Gunfire Hits Perimeter of UN Peacekeeping Post in Lebanon, UNIFIL Says

A post for UN peacekeepers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is pictured near the border with Israel, southern Lebanon, April 6, 2023. (Reuters)
A post for UN peacekeepers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is pictured near the border with Israel, southern Lebanon, April 6, 2023. (Reuters)

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said on Wednesday that direct fire from the Israeli army had hit the perimeter of one of its peacekeeping positions in south Lebanon.

In a statement, UNIFIL said the incident on Tuesday was the first of its kind since Israel and Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire last November.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli army on the incident, in which UNIFIL said one of its bases in the village of Kfar Shouba in southern Lebanon was hit.

"In recent days, UNIFIL has also observed other aggressive behavior by the Israeli military towards peacekeepers performing operational activities in accordance with Security Council Resolution 1701," it said, referring to a UN resolution originally adopted in 2006 to end hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.

Tuesday's incident occurred near the Blue Line, a UN-mapped demarcation separating Lebanon from Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

Any unauthorized crossing of the Blue Line by land or by air from any side constitutes a violation of Security Council Resolution 1701.

UNIFIL cited other alleged incidents it blamed on the Israeli army, including being targeted by lasers while it was performing a patrol with the Lebanese army in the southern border town of Maroun al-Ras on Tuesday.

Israel has continued to occasionally strike areas in south Lebanon, saying that it was targeting Hezbollah infrastructure. It has also struck the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut several times.

The ceasefire terms require that neither Hezbollah nor any other armed group have weapons in areas near the border south of the Litani River, which flows into the Mediterranean some 20 km (12 miles) north of the Israeli border.

They require Israel to withdraw troops from the south and that the Lebanese army deploy into the border region.

Lebanon and Israel have accused each other of failing to fully implement the deal. Israel still occupies five hilltop positions in the south. Rockets have been fired from Lebanon towards Israel twice, though Hezbollah denied any role.

Israel killed thousands of Hezbollah fighters in the war, destroyed much of its arsenal and eliminated its top leaders, including Hassan Nasrallah.

The war spiraled after Hezbollah opened fire at the beginning of the Gaza war, declaring solidarity with its Palestinian ally Hamas.