Ankara dismisses Iraq's 'baseless' objections to its anti-terror op

Turkey on April 21 summoned Baghdad's top envoy to defend its decision to launch a military campaign against PKK in northern Iraq.

Iraq's charge d'affaires was called in and told in clear terms that Turkey is well within its rights to act against a designated terrorist organization that "has been targeting our country from its bases in northern Iraq for nearly 40 years," ministry spokesperson Tanju Bilgiç said in a statement.

Turkiye launched Operation Claw-Lock this week to target PKK hideouts in the Metina, Zap, and Avaşin-Basyan areas.

Iraq, however, raised concerns over the anti-terror offensive and called on Ankara to withdraw its forces.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Wednesday that Turkey's push into the mountains of northern Iraq was being conducted in "close cooperation with the central Iraqi government and the regional administration in northern Iraq".

"As long as the Iraqi authorities do not take concrete and effective steps (against the rebels) and the threat posed by them from Iraq continues, our country will take the necessary measures on the basis of its right of self-defense," Turkish ministry said.