Turkey began a fresh cross-border offensive known as "Operation Claw Lock" against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) fighters early on Monday, April 18.

The ministry's spokesperson, Ahmed Sahaf, said on Thursday, 21 April, that the ministry regards Turkey's attack as "a violation of Iraq's sovereignty, and a threat to its territory's unity and the country's security."

According to NRT Sahaf made the comment in response to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's statement on April 20 that the operation was conducted in cooperation with the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Erbil.

Sahaf said that Erdogan's "claim was untrue".

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry condemned Turkey's fresh offensive in a statement on 19 April and summoned the Turkish ambassador over the attack.

Meanwhile the Kurdistan Region's Peshmerga Ministry has denied involvement in the recent Turkish offensive in the Kurdistan Region against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

In a statement on Thursday, the ministry said that "we categorically reject claims of mobilizing Peshmerga forces and involvement in Turkish operations."

It said that the Kurdistan Peshmerga forces had not taken part in the Turkish offensive in any way.

The statement said that the forces are "on alert" to prevent any other populated areas of the Kurdistan Region from been taken control in the interest of the conflicting sides.

It called for respecting the sovereignty of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

While Iraqi officials have condemned the Turkish attacks, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) officials have largely stayed silent.

Reporter's code: 50101