Photo From Syria Shared as Turkish Armored Vehicle Targeted Northern Iraq
The Claim
A photo depicts an armored Turkish vehicle that was recently targeted with an explosive device in northern Iraq.
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Emerging story
A photo circulating on social media across the MENA region purports to show a Turkish armored vehicle that was recently targeted with an explosive device in northern Iraq. The claim has been making the rounds in Arabic and Turkish.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar found the circulating claim misleading. The photo is old and was not taken in Iraq. According to Syrian and Turkish media, the photo was taken on October 15, 2021, during an attack on a Turkish military convoy near Maarrat Misrin, north of Idlib.
2021 Idlib Attack on Turkish Convoy
On October 15, 2021, a Turkish military convoy was attacked in Maarrat Misrin, north of Idlib, killing two soldiers and injuring several others, according to Syrian media.
Turkish Casualties in Iraq
The claim started circulating after Kurdish media reported that ten Turkish soldiers were killed and others were injured during clashes between Turkish and Kurdish forces in Matina, Zab, and Afshin-Basian in northern Iraq.
Meanwhile, the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced on its official Twitter on Tuesday, July 19, that Turkish security forces had "neutralized" seven PKK members in northern Iraq.
The Turkish Ministry stated that PKK members were killed in the Operation Claw-Lock, Claw-Tiger, and Claw-Lightning zones.
‘Operation Claw-Lock’
On April 18, 2022, Turkey announced the beginning of a military operation dubbed "Claw-Lock" against PKK militants in Matina, Zab, and Afshin-Basian in northern Iraq.
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