Turkey ‘neutralizes’ 8 PKK fighters in airstrike on Metina region of Duhok: state media

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Eight Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) fighters were “neutralized” in a Turkish airstrike on Metina, northern Duhok province on Saturday, the Turkish defense ministry said, according to state media outlet Anadolu.  

The Turkish government uses the term “neutralized” to denote death, injury, or capture of its adversaries. 

No further details were provided about the strike or of any civilian and material damage. 

The airstrike comes days after two Turkish soldiers were killed in a mortar attack conducted by the PKK on Wednesday in the Haftanin area of the Kurdistan Region, close to the border with Turkey.

Turkish forces retaliated for that attack by targeting four suspected PKK positions and “neutralized” eight fighters of the group.

The PKK claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement on Thursday, saying “four Turkish soldiers were killed and three injured.” 

The PKK is an armed group which has fought a decades-long war with the Turkish state for greater political and cultural rights for Kurds in Turkey. It is considered as a terrorist organization by Turkey and its Western allies. 

Turkey routinely launches land and air operations against the group within its borders, in the Kurdistan Region, and in Iraq’s disputed territories of Shingal and Makhmour. It also attacks Kurdish forces in northern Syria, accusing them of ties with the PKK.

The PKK does not usually release statements on Turkish operations unless it suffers major losses or a senior commander is killed.  

The conflict has claimed the lives of more than 40,000 people on both sides, including civilians, according to the International Crisis Group (ICG). 

A ceasefire came into effect in 2013 during the short-lived peace process, which lasted until July 2015 when the talks collapsed. 

Since then, 4,825 people have been killed, including 2,859 PKK fighters, 1,229 Turkish soldiers, 489 civilians, and 226 people of unknown affiliation, according to ICG figures, last updated March 5.