Turkish jets bomb PKK targets in northern Iraq

Published July 24th, 2008 - 08:50 GMT

Turkey's military said on Thursday its fighter jets hit 13 Kurdish targets in northern Iraq the previous day, but said it was still trying to confirm losses suffered by the rebels. Operations will continue against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), the military said in a statement on its website, according to Reuters.

 

"Targets proven to belong to the terrorist organisation PKK/KONGRA-GEL in northern Iraq's Zap region were fired upon successfully by Turkish fighter jets on July 23, 2008," the statement said. According to the military, only PKK targets were fired upon and that no civilian casualties or damage were incurred.

 

The operation takes place a week after heavy fighting between Kurdish activists and the military in southeast Turkey, and some 40,000 troops are currently stationed along Turkey's border with Iraq. According to the AP, the military said it was determined to press ahead with "anti-rebel operations" both inside Turkey and across the border in Iraq "according to military needs."