Military strikes PKK in Iraq, 12 killed in southeast


Turkish warplanes destroyed PKK bunkers, gun emplacements and ammunition depots in northern Iraq early Sunday.

Speaking on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking with the media, military sources said that warplanes carried out airstrikes on the PKK between 2:00 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. local time Sunday in the northern Iraqi regions of Qandil, Medina, Zap and Gara. F-16 and F-4 2020 warplanes returned to base after hitting PKK positions, destroying bunkers and ammunition.

Twelve PKK terrorists were killed in counterterrorism operations in the southeast, the military said on Sunday.

In a statement, the Turkish General Staff said eight terrorists were killed in Mardin province's Nusaybin district, two in neighboring Şırnak province and two in Tunceli province.

Operations to counter the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and EU, in Nusaybin and Şırnak have been ongoing since mid-March. The statement added that 11 terrorists were also captured in the Çukurca district of southeastern Hakkari province.

The PKK resumed its 30-year armed campaign against the Turkish state last July. Since then, more than 430 members of the security forces and around 3,800 PKK terrorists have been killed.