Istanbul: The Turkish Intelligence Service announced the successful neutralization of two female leaders in the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) during a security operation conducted in northern Iraq.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the two leaders, Zeynep Aslan, also known as Mitra Mani, and Zeliha Mahjoub, known as Akin Dila, joined the organization in 2015. The intelligence service revealed in a media circular that they had received information about the leaders’ training to carry out attacks on strategic targets within Turkey. The two were reportedly preparing to cross the border into Turkey to execute these operations.

The Turkish Intelligence Service elaborated that they had been closely tracking the movements and activities of these leaders, enabling them to eliminate them in a targeted operation in the Hakurk region of northern Iraq.

Further information from the Turkish intelligence indicated that the PKK, which is banned in Turkey, maintains its stronghold in the Qandil Mountains of northern Iraq. The organization is reportedly active across various cities, regions, and valleys, from where it launches assaults into Turkey. The Turkish army is committed to dismantling these terrorist activities, aiming to eliminate the threats posed by the PKK.