Turkey says it 'neutralized' 20 PKK members in northern Iraq

Nine Turkish soldiers were killed and four others were wounded in Friday's clash with the PKK in northern Iraq, the ministry said after the incident.

urkish Kurds watch smoke rises over Syrian town of Kobani after an airstrike, as seen from the Mursitpinar border crossing on the Turkish-Syrian border in the southeastern town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province, October 18, 2014. A U.S.-led military coalition has been bombing Islamic State fighters who (photo credit: KAI PFAFFENBACH/REUTERS)
urkish Kurds watch smoke rises over Syrian town of Kobani after an airstrike, as seen from the Mursitpinar border crossing on the Turkish-Syrian border in the southeastern town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province, October 18, 2014. A U.S.-led military coalition has been bombing Islamic State fighters who
(photo credit: KAI PFAFFENBACH/REUTERS)

Turkey said on Saturday its forces had "neutralized" 45 Kurdish militants in northern Syria and Iraq following a clash on Friday with members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in which nine Turkish soldiers were killed in northern Iraq.

"Operations following the treacherous attack neutralized a total of 45 terrorists, 36 in northern Iraq and 9 in northern Syria," Turkey's Communications Directorate said in a statement after President Tayyip Erdogan chaired a security meeting.

Ankara typically uses the term "neutralized" to mean killed.

"Turkey will never allow the establishment of a 'terrorland' on its southern borders under any pretext and for any reason," the statement in Turkish added.

Kurds carry banners as they protest, in the northeastern city of Qamishli, against Turkish airstrikes on the headquarters of the Kurdish fighters from the People's Protection Units (YPG) in Mount Karachok on Tuesday, Syria April 26, 2017. (credit: REUTERS/RODI SAID)
Kurds carry banners as they protest, in the northeastern city of Qamishli, against Turkish airstrikes on the headquarters of the Kurdish fighters from the People's Protection Units (YPG) in Mount Karachok on Tuesday, Syria April 26, 2017. (credit: REUTERS/RODI SAID)

Earlier on Saturday, the Defence Ministry said the military had carried out airstrikes in the Hakurk, Metina, Gara, and Qandil regions of northern Iraq, destroying 29 PKK targets including caves, bunkers, shelters, and oil facilities.

Turkish operations in Iraq

Turkish forces have been carrying out a cross-border operation called "Claw-Lock" in Iraq as part of the country's offensive against PKK militants.

Turkey has also launched military incursions in Syria against the Kurdish YPG militia, regarding it as a wing of the PKK.

The PKK, designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union, took up arms against the Turkish state in 1984.