Turkey launches a military operation against the terrorist PKK in northern Iraq

Turkey announced the launch of a new ground and air military operation against the hideouts of the PKK terrorist organization in northern Iraq.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar announced today, Monday, the launch of a new military operation against targets belonging to the terrorist PKK organization in the regions of Metina, Zab and Afashin Bassian in northern Iraq.

This came during a meeting with the Chief of the General Staff, General Yasar Guler, the Commander of the Land Forces, Brigadier General Musa Avsefer, and the Commander of the Naval Forces, Lieutenant-General Adnan Ozbal, at the headquarters of the Air Force Command in the Turkish capital, Ankara.

In a briefing about the operation, Akar said, "Our heroic Turkish armed forces launched Operation Locking Claw against terrorist targets in northern Iraq, with the aim of preventing terrorist attacks against our people and our forces and ensuring our borders."

He explained that as part of the operation, "the air force bombed terrorist targets in the areas of Matina, Zab and Avashin Bassian, and the Turkish pilots succeeded in hitting targets consisting of shelters, hideouts, caves, tunnels, ammunition depots and the so-called headquarters of the terrorist organization."

He stressed that "the commando forces infiltrated the land borders into northern Iraq and participated in the process of targeting the organization, with the support of (Atak) planes and marches."

He pointed out that the operation is continuing successfully as planned, and the objectives set in the first phase of it have been achieved.

A few days ago, the Turkish commandos, during a survey and combing operation in northern Iraq, found about 45,000 rifle rounds, 48 ​​bombs, 46 Dushka rounds, and 9 anti-tank shells that were hidden in ISIS hideouts.

In early February, Turkey launched an air military operation under the name "Winter Eagle", during which it targeted ISIS targets in the Malikiyah-Derik, Sinjar and Qarajiq areas in northern Iraq and Syria.

It is noteworthy that the terrorist PKK takes the Qandil Mountains in northern Iraq as a stronghold and is active in many cities, regions and valleys, from which it launches attacks on the Turkish interior.

Raisi threatens to target the heart of Israel if it considers action against Iran

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi confirmed that the Iranian armed forces would target the heart of Israel if it took "the slightest move" against Iran.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said during a military parade on Monday that the Iranian armed forces would target the heart of Israel if it took "the slightest move" against Iran.

Raisi said in a televised speech: "If you take the slightest action against our people, the destination of our armed forces will be the heart of the Zionist regime."

Israel, which Iran refuses to recognize, says it will not accept Iran becoming a "nuclear state" at a time when Tehran and major powers are trying to revive the 2015 nuclear deal.

Indirect talks between Tehran and Washington for nearly a year were suspended last month.

Israel says it will not be bound by any agreement and may eventually take unilateral action against Iran's nuclear sites.

German police violently assault a boy of Turkish origin

A video of police use of violence in Germany shows a 13-year-old boy of Turkish descent, allegedly for tearing up an election poster. The boy's family said they would sue the police and would not tolerate their rights.

A Turkish family in Germany has said it will sue German police over their use of violence against their son for allegedly tearing up an election poster.

A video clip showed two police officers handcuffing 13-year-old Amirhan Altintas, while one of the officers kneaded the boy's chest in the western city of Duisburg.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Amirhan's father, Ersin Altintas, said that such treatment by the police of a 13-year-old child could not be tolerated, no matter what.

"We will follow the case legally to the end," said the father, who works as a truck driver in Duisburg.

Amirhan told Altintas about the incident, and said that he was having fun with his friends when he suddenly lost his balance in front of the church and fell with an election poster in his hand that he tried to hold on to.

He explained, "I could not breathe and lost consciousness. They (the police) put pressure on my arms and legs and dragged me to the ground."

The father said that the Turkish authorities and the Turkish press contacted them after the incident, but the German authorities and the press ignored this.

He added, "We will not give this matter up until the end, no matter what happens. We will definitely file a lawsuit."