Operation Claw-Eagle 2

{{main|Operations Claw-Eagle and Tiger}}

In January 2021, prior to the operation, Turkish Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar visited both the Kurdistan Region and the Iraqi capital Baghdad to announce that Turkey intends to eliminate the PKK from Iraq and to seek cooperation from the two governments. Turkey has previously launched several other operations against the PKK in the region.{{cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/11/three-turkish-soldiers-killed-in-northern-iraq|title=Three Turkish soldiers killed in northern Iraq|work=Al Jazeera English|date=11 February 2021|access-date=14 February 2021|archive-date=16 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216065520/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/11/three-turkish-soldiers-killed-in-northern-iraq|url-status=live}}

The operation targeted a 75 by 25 kilometer area on the Gare mountain, a transit area for PKK fighters to cross from Iraq to Turkey,{{cite web|url=https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2021/02/turkey-escalate-attacks-pkk-rebels-northern-iraq.html|title=Turkey escalates attacks against PKK rebels across northern Iraq|work=Al-Monitor|date=10 February 2021|access-date=14 February 2021|archive-date=11 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211122213/https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2021/02/turkey-escalate-attacks-pkk-rebels-northern-iraq.html|url-status=live}} about 50 kilometers northeast of Duhok city. The Turkish Air Force, using fighter jets and attack helicopters, launched airstrikes at 02:55 and claimed to have simultaneously destroyed more than 50 PKK targets in the area which encompasses 6 villages, including air raid shelters, ammunition depots, and headquarters. A local mayor disputed this claim and claimed that the airstrikes only damaged vineyards and other agricultural fields.{{Cite web |author=van Wilgenburg |first=Wladimir |date=10 February 2021 |title=Turkey launches new operation against PKK near Gare mountain |url=https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/23922-Turkey-launches-new-operation-against-PKK-near-Gare-mountain |work=Kurdistan 24 |access-date=14 February 2021 |archive-date=10 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210143033/https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/23922-Turkey-launches-new-operation-against-PKK-near-Gare-mountain |url-status=live }} Civilians, mostly farmers, from the affected villages all left before the airstrikes while many animals were left behind.{{Cite web |author=Dri |first=Karwan Faidhi |date=13 February 2021 |title=Duhok farmers can't access fields as Turkey-PKK clashes rage |url=https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/13022021 |work=Rudaw |access-date=14 February 2021 |archive-date=15 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215005846/https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/13022021 |url-status=live }}

Following the airstrikes, the ground attack began at 04:55 as Turkish commandos were airdropped near Siyanê village and engaged in fighting against People's Defence Forces (HPG) militants.{{Failed verification|date=April 2021}} Three Turkish soldiers were killed and three others were wounded during the initial clash, and clashes continued into the next day. On the third day, Turkish troops supported by airstrikes landed from helicopters, entered high-level protected Gare mountain bunker, and claimed to capture two HPG fighters during the fighting against 8 HPG fighters, the rest of which were killed and few of them tried to flee area with Paramotors.{{Cite web|title=SON DAKİKA: Gara'da paramotor ile kaçmaya çalışan 3 PKK'lı terörist etkisiz hale getirildi|url=https://www.cnnturk.com/turkiye/son-dakika-garada-paramotor-ile-kacmaya-calisan-3-pkkli-terorist-etkisiz-hale-getirildi|access-date=2021-02-15|website=CNN Türk|date=14 February 2021 |language=tr|archive-date=14 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214120407/https://www.cnnturk.com/turkiye/son-dakika-garada-paramotor-ile-kacmaya-calisan-3-pkkli-terorist-etkisiz-hale-getirildi|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Gara'da paramotor ile kaçmaya çalışan teröristler SİHA'larla etkisiz hâle getirildi {{!}} STAR|url=https://www.star.com.tr/guncel/garada-paramotor-ile-kacmaya-calisan-3-terorist-etkisiz-hale-getirildi-haber-1609674/|access-date=2021-02-15|website=Star.com.tr|date=14 February 2021 |archive-date=16 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216125349/https://www.star.com.tr/guncel/garada-paramotor-ile-kacmaya-calisan-3-terorist-etkisiz-hale-getirildi-haber-1609674/|url-status=live}} The Turkish Ministry of Defense claimed that in the bunker cave, its troops also discovered the bodies of 13 Turkish citizens who had been captured by the PKK. The Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) claimed that the Turkish ground operation would not have been possible without permission or support from the Kurdistan Democratic Party which controls most of the region. KDP involvement was denied by both the KDP and HPG.

The Turkish Ministry of Defense announced on 14 February 2021 that the operation has been "successfully carried out in difficult land and climatic conditions", with Turkish forces returning to their bases, and that a total of 48 PKK fighters has been killed.{{cite web |author=Ozer |first=Sarp |date=14 February 2021 |title=Turkey neutralizes 48 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/turkey-neutralizes-48-pkk-terrorists-in-northern-iraq/2144145 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216125208/https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/turkey-neutralizes-48-pkk-terrorists-in-northern-iraq/2144145 |archive-date=16 February 2021 |access-date=14 February 2021 |work=Anadolu Agency}} 13 Turkish hostages and kidnapping victims held by the PKK were found dead in the cave, with 12 being shot in the head and one in the shoulder. The two PKK prisoners captured by Turkey claimed that the PKK executed the Turkish captives during the start of the operation. The US government was initially hesitant to accept Turkey's position, but eventually stated that the PKK was responsible for the death of those captives. Six Turkish soldiers and two police officers who were kidnapped in 2015 and 2016 were identified among the killed prisoners after autopsies of the bodies were conducted in Malatya Province.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/turkce/haberler-turkiye-56060642|title=13 kişinin hayatını kaybettiği Kuzey Irak'taki operasyonla ilgili neler biliniyor?|newspaper=BBC News Türkçe|access-date=16 February 2021|archive-date=13 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211113200315/https://www.bbc.com/turkce/haberler-turkiye-56060642|url-status=live}} Turkish intelligence personnel were also reported among the dead.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}} The PKK denied that it executed the hostages and kidnapping victims and claimed they died during the clashes. On the map announced by the General Staff the sketch of the bunker cave where the hostages were kept was exhibited.

File:EuLldyFXUAATvge.jpg

According to the map, the prisoner section located in the depths of the cave was protected by steel doors and iron bars. When the soldiers explored the area, they noticed that the captives were killed.{{Cite web|title=Aydınlık Gazetesi|url=http://www.aydinlik.com.tr/|access-date=2021-02-15|website=www.aydinlik.com.tr|language=en|archive-date=14 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214050149/https://aydinlik.com.tr/|url-status=live}} Turkish Security sources gave the following information about the weapons and ammunition seized in the cave, which the organization used as a prison and bunker shelter claiming: "2 RPG 7 anti-tank rockets of US and Russian origin, 2 Russian or Chinese Biksi (PK Machine Guns) 1 Russian origin Kalashnikov rifle, 1 sniper weapon Zagros-2, 1 US origin M16 A2 Carbine 727 model infantry rifle, 8x 30 stinger air defense missile, 1 thermal night vision scope, 1 night vision goggles, one 8 × 24 daytime sight handheld binoculars, 1 harness kit (tool used for weapon holding), 1 piece of daytime sight over gun, 1 piece of Kestrel (a device used by snipers to measure the wind), 1 calculator and 1 YAHESU shortcut handheld radio."{{Cite web |last= |date=2021-02-15 |title=Gara operasyonunda ele geçirilen silah ve mühimmatlar hangi ülkelere ait? |url=https://www.ajanshaber.com.tr/gara-operasyonunda-ele-gecirilen-silah-ve-muhimmatlar-hangi-ulkelere-ait-haber-470150 |access-date=2021-02-15 |website=Ajanshaber.com |language=tr-TR |archive-date=16 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216100726/https://www.ajanshaber.com.tr/gara-operasyonunda-ele-gecirilen-silah-ve-muhimmatlar-hangi-ulkelere-ait-haber-470150 |url-status=live }}

Turkish presidency media director Fahrettin Altun vowed to "chase down every last terrorist hiding in their caves and safe houses" and exact "painful" revenge and "swift" justice after the operation's conclusion. He and presidency spokesman İbrahim Kalın condemned the Western world's lack of response and Minister of Interior Affairs Süleyman Soylu threatened to tear PKK leader Murat Karayılan "into a thousand pieces".{{Cite web|url=https://www.duvarenglish.com/turkey-says-pkk-militants-executed-13-including-soldiers-in-iraq-news-56238|title=Turkey says PKK militants executed 13, including soldiers, in Iraq|work=Duvar English|date=14 February 2021|access-date=15 February 2021|archive-date=14 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214144623/https://www.duvarenglish.com/turkey-says-pkk-militants-executed-13-including-soldiers-in-iraq-news-56238|url-status=live}}

Meanwhile, the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) expressed condolences to those killed during the operation and urged the PKK to release its remaining captives. Ankara's chief public prosecutor's office launched investigations into HDP MPs Hüda Kaya and Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu and others who claimed the prisoners were killed by Turkish bombardment and those who shared videos of these prisoners.

The main opposition party Republican People's Party stated that Erdoğan caused the deaths and failure of Turkish forces and that Erdoğan did not peacefully call for their release, calling the operation a "mess." The main opposition leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu stated that Erdoğan caused the failure, claiming that "normally someone should take responsibility and resign. You go to rescue hostages and they die. The person responsible for our 13 martyrs is Recep Tayyip Erdoğan."{{Cite web|url=https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2021/02/turkey-opposition-chp-kilicdaroglu-blame-erdogan-pkk-iraq.html|title=Turkish opposition blames Erdogan for Turks killed in Iraq|first=Amberin|last=Zaman|date=16 February 2021|website=Al-Monitor|access-date=16 February 2021|archive-date=17 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217011521/https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2021/02/turkey-opposition-chp-kilicdaroglu-blame-erdogan-pkk-iraq.html|url-status=live}} In response, Erdoğan sued Kılıçdaroğlu for 500,000 Turkish liras.{{Cite web|title=Erdoğan sues CHP leader over Gara killing remarks|url=https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/erdogan-sues-chp-leader-over-gara-killing-remarks-162517|access-date=2021-04-03|website=Hürriyet Daily News|date=18 February 2021 |language=en|archive-date=11 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411092233/https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/erdogan-sues-chp-leader-over-gara-killing-remarks-162517|url-status=live}}

The Turkish Human Rights Association (İHD), who previously facilitated the return of hostages from the PKK, stated their offers to help negotiate were rejected by state officials.{{Cite web|last=Evin|first=Mehveş|date=2021-02-26|title=The killing of captives in Garê and its aftermath|url=https://www.duvarenglish.com/the-killing-of-captives-in-gare-and-its-aftermath-article-56414|access-date=2021-03-02|website=Duvar English|language=en|archive-date=11 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411092234/https://www.duvarenglish.com/the-killing-of-captives-in-gare-and-its-aftermath-article-56414|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=|date=15 Feb 2021|title=İHD Statement on the Death of Captive Soldiers and Officers – HRA|url=https://ihd.org.tr/en/ihd-statement-on-the-death-of-captive-soldiers-and-officers/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-03|language=en|archive-date=11 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411092235/https://ihd.org.tr/en/ihd-statement-on-the-death-of-captive-soldiers-and-officers/}} Chairman of the İHD, Öztürk Türkdoğan, said security officials were insistent on military operations, but also criticized the PKK for holding hostages for so long. The following month, Türkdoğan was arrested alongside a number of HDP officials. After objections from human rights groups such as Amnesty International, he was released.{{Cite web|title=Turkey: Arrest of human rights leader makes mockery of Erdogan's "Human Rights Action Plan"|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/03/turkey-arrest-of-human-rights-leader-makes-mockery-of-erdogans-human-rights-action-plan/|access-date=2021-04-03|website=www.amnesty.org|date=19 March 2021|language=en|archive-date=11 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411092235/https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/03/turkey-arrest-of-human-rights-leader-makes-mockery-of-erdogans-human-rights-action-plan/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|date=2021-03-19|title=Turkish police arrest pro-Kurdish HDP officials|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-politics-kurds-idUSKBN2BB0AX|access-date=2021-04-03|archive-date=11 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411092233/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-politics-kurds-idUSKBN2BB0AX|url-status=live}}

The PKK originally claimed the hostages were killed by the aerial bombing of the Turkish army. The autopsy report, however, confirmed that the hostages were shot in the head, and the relatives who were allowed to visit the morgue confirmed the reports that their hostage relatives were tortured and shot dead.{{Cite web|date=19 Feb 2021|title=Martyr Müslüm Altıntaş's family spoke: My son was tortured.|url=https://www.haber7.com/guncel/haber/3069670-sehit-muslum-altintasin-ailesi-konustu-oglum-iskenceye-maruz-kalmis|url-status=live|website={{ill|Haber7|tr}}|quote=They still lie to us saying that the TSK bombed. They provoke us against our state. My child and others were martyred by bullets.|access-date=21 February 2021|archive-date=19 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219071349/https://www.haber7.com/guncel/haber/3069670-sehit-muslum-altintasin-ailesi-konustu-oglum-iskenceye-maruz-kalmis}}{{Cite news|date=17 Feb 2021|title=Father of the Gara martyr spoke: Everyone should learn this|work=Milliyet|url=https://www.milliyet.com.tr/gundem/gara-sehidinin-babasi-konustu-yurt-disindan-arayan-alcaklara-kanmiyorum-oglum-kafasindan-vurulmustu-6433532|url-status=live|access-date=2 April 2021|quote=I washed the body of my dead son. He was shot in the head. Had he been bombed, he would have been splintered into ten pieces.|archive-date=11 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411092233/https://www.milliyet.com.tr/gundem/gara-sehidinin-babasi-konustu-yurt-disindan-arayan-alcaklara-kanmiyorum-oglum-kafasindan-vurulmustu-6433532}} While the United States originally appeared ambiguous about who it believed bore responsibility for the killings, Secretary of State Antony Blinken later stated that Washington views the PKK responsible.{{Cite web|last=Zaman|first=Amberin|date=2021-02-15|title=Blinken walks back State Department ambiguity over Turkish hostages killed in Iraq|url=https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2021/02/blinken-state-department-turkey-hostages-pkk-killed-iraq.html|access-date=2021-03-01|website=Al-Monitor|language=en|archive-date=6 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306113126/https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2021/02/blinken-state-department-turkey-hostages-pkk-killed-iraq.html|url-status=live}} The PKK later revised their claim to say that Turkey used poison gas, resulting in the captives deaths, who were then "executed so that the blame could be put on us".{{Cite web|title=Footage and accounts of guerrillas: What happened in Gare?|url=https://anfenglish.com/features/footage-and-accounts-of-guerrillas-what-happened-in-gare-50166|access-date=2021-04-03|website=ANF News|language=en|archive-date=11 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411092234/https://anfenglish.com/features/footage-and-accounts-of-guerrillas-what-happened-in-gare-50166|url-status=live}}

• Operation Steel
• Operation Hammer (1997)
• Operation Dawn (1997)
• Iraqi Kurdish Civil War
• Operations Claw-Lightning and Thunderbolt
• Operation Claw-Lock

{{noteslist}}

{{reflist}}

{{coord missing|Iraq}}

• {{Cite news |last=Wilks |first=Andrew |date=2021-02-14 |title=Turkey says 13 of its citizens killed by militants in N.Iraq |url=https://apnews.com/article/turkey-iraq-kidnapping-hulusi-akar-c972f7d9ef13443718c09dd54ca0e9fd |access-date=2021-02-21 |work=Associated Press |ref=none }}
• {{Cite news |last=Fahim |first=Kareem |date=2021-02-14 |title=Kurdish militants executed 13 Turkish citizens in Iraq, Turkey says |language=en-US |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/turkey-iraq-pkk-cave-/2021/02/14/0914bd3a-6ee9-11eb-a4eb-44012a612cf9_story.html |access-date=2021-02-21 |issn=0190-8286 |ref=none }}
• {{Cite news |date=2021-02-14 |title=Turkey says militants executed 13, including soldiers, police, in Iraq |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-iraq-security-idUSKBN2AE050 |access-date=2021-02-21 |ref=none }}
• {{Cite news |last1=Fahim |first1=Kareem |last2=DeYoung |first2=Karen |date=2021-02-15 |title=Turkey accuses U.S. of supporting Kurdish militants after 13 Turkish hostages are killed |language=en-US |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/turkey-us-pkk-executions/2021/02/15/85b90e5a-6fb0-11eb-93be-c10813e358a2_story.html |access-date=2021-02-21 |issn=0190-8286 |ref=none }}
• {{Cite news |last=Fraser |first=Suzan |date=2021-02-15 |title=Turkey accuses US of backing PKK after Turks killed in Iraq |url=https://apnews.com/article/turkey-middle-east-recep-tayyip-erdogan-syria-iraq-b8821c586cc6b7a20162c8694d781d92 |access-date=2021-02-21 |work=Associated Press |language=en |ref=none }}
• {{Cite news |date=2021-02-15 |title=Erdoğan lashes out at US over deaths of hostages held by PKK |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/15/erdogan-lashes-out-at-us-over-deaths-of-hostages-held-by-pkk |access-date=2021-02-21 |work=The Guardian |language=en |ref=none }}
• {{Cite news |last1=Lewis |first1=Simon |last2=Gumrukcu |first2=Tuvan |date=2021-02-15 |title=U.S. reassures Turkey over executions after Erdogan calls response 'a joke' |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-turkey-iraq-security-idUSKBN2AF0XV |access-date=2021-02-21 |ref=none }}
• {{Cite news |date=2021-02-16 |title=Turkey vows to expand anti-PKK operations in northern Iraq |url=https://apnews.com/article/turkey-middle-east-iraq-recep-tayyip-erdogan-f6ed1834a19996390da5cc9d28f0e8c0 |access-date=2021-02-21 |work=Associated Press |language=en |ref=none }}
• {{Cite news |date=2021-02-16|title=Erdogan says Turkey will expand operations against Kurdish militants |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-iraq-security-erdogan-idUSKBN2AG1G9 |access-date=2021-02-21 |ref=none }}
• {{Cite news |date=2021-02-16 |title=Turkish opposition presses government for answers over Iraq killings |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-iraq-security-opposition-idUSKBN2AG25F |access-date=2021-02-21 |ref=none }}
• {{Cite news |last=McKernan |first=Bethan |date=2021-02-16 |title=Erdoğan vows to expand fight against PKK after deaths of 13 hostages |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/16/erdogan-vows-to-expand-fight-against-pkk-after-deaths-of-13-hostages |access-date=2021-02-21 |work=The Guardian |language=en |ref=none }}

{{Kurdish–Turkish conflict}}

Category:2021 airstrikes

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