Operation took place after 9 Turkish soldiers were killed ISTANBUL: Turkiye has carried out airstrikes in northern Iraq, “neutralizing” 20 members of the outlawed PKK Kurdish militant group and destroying 29 targets after Turkish soldiers were killed in a clash on Friday, the Defense Ministry said on Saturday. In a statement on the X social media platform, the ministry said airstrikes were conducted in the Hakurk, Metina, Gara, and Qandil regions of northern Iraq. It said the targets included caves, bunkers, shelters, and oil facilities. BACKGROUND Nine Turkish soldiers were killed and four others were wounded in Friday’s clash with the Kurdish militant group in northern Iraq. The ministry also said the operations had “neutralized” 20 militants in the region. Ankara typically uses the term “neutralized” to mean killed. Separately, the ministry said Turkish forces had “neutralized” nine Kurdish militants in northern Syria. The operations came after 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. 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. The PKK, designated a terrorist group by Turkiye, the US and the EU, took up arms against the Turkish state in 1984. Turkiye has also launched military incursions in Syria against the Kurdish YPG militia, regarding it as a wing of the PKK. “The infiltration attempt of a terrorist group of 12 people in northern Syria was successfully prevented,” the defense ministry statement said.