By Omer Olcay

ANKARA (AA) – A Turkish soldier who was injured in terrorists' harassing fire during Türkiye’s anti-terror operation in northern Iraq died of his injuries, the Turkish National Defense Ministry said on Friday.

The specialized sergeant, Recep Parlak, was injured when terrorists opened harassing fire on Türkiye’s Operation Claw-Lock zone on Sept. 11, the ministry said in a statement.

Parlak succumbed to his wounds in the hospital on Thursday.

The ministry extended its condolences to Parlak's family, the Turkish Armed Forces, and the entire nation.

The terrorists' affiliation was not specified, but the PKK terror group has been known to be active in the region.

Türkiye launched Operation Claw-Lock last year in April to target the terror group PKK's hideouts in the Metina, Zap, and Avasin-Basyan regions of northern Iraq, located near the Turkish border.

It was preceded by two operations – Claw-Tiger and Claw-Eagle – launched in 2020 to root out terrorists hiding in northern Iraq and plotting cross-border attacks in Türkiye.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.