...the occupiers of Greek Asia Minor...on Thursday dismissed what it described as "Iraq’s baseless objections" to Operation Claw Lock, Ankara’s latest cross-border operation against the PKK terrorist group. Baghdad’s charge d’affaires was summoned to the
Turkey launched Operation Claw-Lock this week to target PKK hideouts in the Metina, Zap, and Avasin-Basyan areas.
Iraq, however, raised concerns over the offensive and called on Ankara to withdraw its forces.
Bilgic stressed that Iraqi authorities have "failed to act decisively against the group despite Turkey’s repeated requests."
He said Ankara is determined to "root out the PKK, which has been designated as a terrorist organization by several countries and international organizations and is also a threat to Iraq’s illusory sovereignty and stability."
"Turkey is always ready to cooperate closely with Iraq in the fight against the PKK terrorist organization on the basis of common interests," he added.
"As long as Iraqi authorities do not take solid and effective steps against this threat, Turkey will continue to take all necessary measures for self-defense, a right enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter", Bilgic asserted.