WASHINGTON, 15 February, 2021 (TON): US State Department spokesman Ned Price condemned the killing of 13 Turkish citizens kidnapped in Northern Iraq as the Turkish officials said they were executed by militants of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

The Defense minister of Turkey, Hulusi Akar stated, the executions, which included military and police personnel, took place during a Turkish military operation launched on 10 February against the PKK, in which 48 militants were also killed.

Troops have found the bodies of 13 Turkish citizens abducted by Kurdish insurgents in a cave complex in northern Iraq.

The United States on Sunday condemned the killing of 13 kidnapped Turkish citizens in northern Iraq after Turkish officials said they were).

In reaction to this, the U.S. said in a statement, "The United States deplores the death of Turkish citizens in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.”

It added, “If reports that the PKK was responsible were confirmed, we condemn this action in the strongest possible terms."

Although the operation Claw-Eagle 2 led to the deaths of 48 PKK militants, including three senior members, and the capture of two insurgents, the world considers it an act of brutality.