Turkey announced the launch of a long-anticipated aerial operation dubbed "Claw-Sword" targeting Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) positions in the Kurdistan Region and People's Protection Units (YPG) fighters in northern Syria on Sunday, claiming that both groups threaten the security of the country.
"This is not limited to just an air operation," state-owned Anadolu Agency cited Erdogan as saying, hinting that a ground operation will follow the cross-border aerial bombardments targeting the PKK and YPG.
Erdogan added that Turkey has struck 45 PKK targets in the Kurdistan Region and 49 YPG targets in northeast Syria (Rojava) in the scope of the operation.
"We have already warned that we will make those who violate our territory pay," Erdogan said.
Turkey on Monday said five rockets struck Gaziantep, killing three civilians including one child, claiming that the attack was conducted by the YPG from Kurdish-held areas in northern Syria. The Kurdish forces have not claimed responsibility and were not readily available to respond to Rudaw English's requests for comment.
The Turkish aerial bombardments early on Sunday morning in northern Syria killed at least 35 people, including 13 members of military formations operating in SDF-controlled areas and 16 Syrian regime soldiers, according to SOHR.
The new aerial campaign comes days after Turkey accused the PKK and the YPG of being behind a deadly explosion in Istanbul last week which killed six people and injured 81 others. Both groups have strongly denied involvement in the incident.
The PKK is a Kurdish armed group fighting for the increased rights of Kurds in Turkey. Turkish forces regularly pursue the PKK, as well as individuals believed to be affiliated with the group through the use of drones, airstrikes, and targeted assassinations within the Kurdistan Region's borders, where the group has its headquarters.
Turkey's defense ministry on Monday claimed that Ankara has killed 1,441 YPG and PKK fighters in Syria and Iraq during the "Claw" series of operations, which began in 2019.
