Turkey strikes northern Iraq, Syria following death of 12 soldiers
A funeral of Turkish soldiers in the Turkish capital Ankara. Photo: Anadolu Agency
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Turkish Ministry of Defense mentioned on Saturday that the Turkish air force carried out airstrikes in Syria and northern Iraq, destroying 29 objectives belonging to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
The Turkish air strike followed the deaths of 12 Turkish soldiers in northern Iraq on Thursday and Friday, according to Reuters.
The targets attacked included camps, shelters, and oil facilities thought to be used by PKK militants. The operations were carried out in northern Iraq and Syria around 10:00 p.m. (1900 GMT), the Turkish ministry said.
Before the launch of the air strikes, the Turkish Defense Ministry said that 12 soldiers were killed in confrontations with PKK militants in northern Iraq during the previous two days.
At least 16 militants belonging to the PKK were killed on Saturday after another seven were killed on Friday in the ongoing armed clashes, according to the Turkish ministry.
The PKK began an armed conflict against Turkey in 1984 after being labeled as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union (EU).
Turkey often launches airstrikes in the northern parts of Iraq and Syria as part of its war against PKK militants stationed in the two neighboring countries.