Turkish army destroys seized explosives in N. Iraq

ANKARA

Turkish security forces on Sunday destroyed seized improvised explosive devices (IED) in northern Iraq, as part of country’s ongoing counter-terror operation dubbed “Operation Claw-3”.

“In line with the successfully ongoing Operation Claw-3, a total of four IEDs were destroyed…” the Ministry of National Defense said in a statement.

On Aug. 23, Turkey launched Operation Claw-3 in northern Iraq to battle the PKK terror group; dozens of terrorists and terror posts have been neutralized so far in line with the operation.

The main objectives of the operation are to facilitate border security, neutralize terrorists, destroy caves and shelters in Sinat-Haftanin region in northern Iraq, according to an earlier statement by the ministry.

Turkey's fighter jets, armed and reconnaissance drones and self-propelled howitzers are used to monitor and hit terrorists, who often use northern Iraq as a base to plan cross-border terror acts in Turkey.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.