Turkey's military has killed 17 members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in a recent airstrike conducted as part of its ongoing Operation Claw-Lock in northern Iraq. The Turkish Defense Ministry declared its commitment to eradicating the PKK, which it designates as a terrorist organization responsible for decades of violence within Turkey. The operation aims to target PKK bases and disrupt their supply lines, with the Turkish government emphasizing the importance of cooperation with the Iraqi government to eliminate the group. The airstrikes follow increasing Turkish military presence in the region and have drawn condemnation from Iraq's National Security Council, which rejects Turkish incursions as violations of its sovereignty. Despite this, Iraq's ability to counter such operations is limited due to its weakened state amid geopolitical complexities in the region. The PKK has shifted many of its operations to northern Iraq as Turkish domestic efforts have diminished its presence within Turkey.