Turkish Minister of Defence Hulusi Akar looks at a map with members of the Turkish Armed Forces Command in June 2020. AFP
Turkish Minister of Defence Hulusi Akar looks at a map with members of the Turkish Armed Forces Command in June 2020. AFP
Turkish Minister of Defence Hulusi Akar looks at a map with members of the Turkish Armed Forces Command in June 2020. AFP
Turkish Minister of Defence Hulusi Akar looks at a map with members of the Turkish Armed Forces Command in June 2020. AFP

Three Turkish soliders killed in clashes in northern Iraq against PKK elements


Mina Aldroubi
  • English
  • Arabic

At least three Turkish soldiers were killed on Thursday in northern Iraq after Ankara launched a new military operation against suspected Kurdish rebel targets, the country's defence ministry said.

The ministry said its forces carried out Operation Claw-Eagle 2 against the Kurdish militant group known as the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), near Gara Mountain in the northern Iraqi Kurdish city of Duhok.

"Two soldiers were killed on Wednesday in clashes that broke out in the Gara region during the first day of the military operations. A third solider was died on Thursday of wounds sustained during the clashes," the ministry said.

The operation was launched to "neutralise the PKK and other terrorist elements from northern Iraq" to ensure security along the Turkish-Iraqi border, the ministry said.

PKK fighters have established “shelter places and positions and are preparing for a large-scale attack” in northern Iraq, the ministry said.

Gara Mountain is about 50 kilometres north-east of Duhok.

PKK affiliated Media said on Wednesday that violent clashes broke out between their fighters and the Turkish military in the Gara Mountain.

Last month, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar visited Baghdad and the northern city of Erbil.

“Co-operation and co-ordination against the PKK plays a very important role. We are ready for every possible co-ordination with Iraq,” Mr Akar said during his visit.

Last June, Ankara launched Operation Claw-Tiger in the mountainous terrain of Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region.

It has used warplanes, drones and special forces, and boasted about hitting hundreds of PKK targets, but gave few details.

Turkey has been fighting the Kurdish militant group along its borders with Syria and Iraq for several decades.

It labels the PKK a terrorist organisation because of its insurgency against the Turkish state.

The United States and the European Union also consider the PKK a terror group.

Although Iraq has protested about the Turkish strikes on its land, Ankara continues to carry out air and ground attacks in areas where it believes the group is hiding.

Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
​​​​​​​Penguin Press

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Director: Christian Schwochow

Starring: George MacKay, Jannis Niewohner, Jeremy Irons

Rating: 3/5

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The story of Edge

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.

It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.

Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.

Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab

 

What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

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Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

The specs

Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8

Transmission: eight-speed PDK

Power: 630bhp

Torque: 820Nm

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