Turkish Army Plans Large-Scale Ground Military Operation

The Turkish army is planning a large-scale ground military operation in northern Iraq against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). This was reported by RIA Novosti, citing the Turkish newspaper Hürriyet.

“First, a large-scale ground operation will be carried out in the region where the 'Claw-Lock' operation was implemented,” stated Abdulqadir Selvin, a columnist close to government circles.

According to him, Ankara has reached an agreement with the central administration of Iraq and the administration of Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, ahead of the operation.

Turkey intends to ‘seal off’ the entire 378 km border with Iraq from the militarized organization, according to Hürriyet.

In October, Turkey's air force conducted the largest air operation in northern Syria, targeting the PKK and its Syrian wing, the People’s Protection Units (YPG). The operation involved 30 combat aircraft.