TRNC government and state officials issued a message of condolences on Thursday for the three Turkish soldiers killed in a terror attack in northern Iraq.

According to a statement issued by the Turkish Ministry of Defense the soldiers were killed in the Operation Pençe-Yıldırım zone.

In a statement expressing his condolences to the families of the soldiers as well as the Turkish nation, President Ersin Tatar said that he was fully convinced the Turkish Armed Forces will be successful in its operations aimed at neutralizing Turkey’s borders from terrorist elements.

Prime Minister Faiz Sucuoğlu who also issued a message condemned attempts to disrupt and break up Turkey’s territorial integrity and unity.

“This heinous attack has deeply saddened the Turkish Cypriot people. We hope that no other lives will be lost. We share Turkey’s pain,” he said, expressing his condolences to the families of the soldiers as well as the Turkish Armed Forces.

According to a statement issued by the Turkish Defense Ministry, the

Turkish security forces also “neutralized” six terrorists in an air-backed operation.

It added that the operation is continuing in the region.