“The Claw-Lightning and Claw-Thunderbolt operations continue successfully. So far, 44 terrorists have been neutralized. We have broken into their lair. We are determined to end terrorism. We'll be able to do it, we'll do it,” Akar said.

The joint Claw-Lightning and Claw-Thunderbolt operations are ongoing Turkish Armed Forces cross border operations in northern Iraq.

The operations are taking place in the Metina, Zap, and Avashin-Basyan regions against Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) targets.

The operations began on the evening of 23 April 2021, with air and howitzer strikes targeting PKK positions in Northern Iraq.

In the following hours of the strikes, Turkish paratroopers and commandos airdropped from Chinook and Black Hawk helicopters to the points of Metina, Zap, and Avashin-Basyan regions.