Photo source: Arab News By Naveed Qazi | Editor, Globe Upfront In a calculated manner, Turkey launched its new cross-border operation, codenamed Claw Lock against Kurdistan Worker’s Party in northern Iraq in April 2022. Post-2015, it is Turkey’s latest effort to strangle PKK’s freedom of movement, and gradually weaken its associates. Operation Claw-Lock is the successor of the similarly named joint air and ground operations Claw-Lightning and Claw-Thunderbolt in 2021, and Claw-Eagle and Claw-Tiger in 2020. The Turkish military is carrying out helicopter-borne commando raids on mountains and into caves. Unlike past operations that concluded by winter, Turkish forces, in these new operations, are making gains all year round, through the establishment of an increasing number of military outposts, and forward operating bases in strategically important areas. Although these operations have failed to rout out PKK in the Qandil stronghold, they have nevertheless put unprecedented pressu...