Iraqi Turkmen political figures on Monday expressed their concerns over the display of PKK imagery in Kirkuk.

Portraits of the terror group's leader Abdullah Öcalan, jailed in Turkey, and PKK banners were seen at the center of the northern Iraqi city. Kirkuk's population is mainly composed of Arabs, Turkmen, and Kurds.

The head of the Iraqi Turkmen Front, Arshad al-Salehi, told Anadolu Agency that directing terrorist organizations towards districts inhabited by Turkmen was "a conspiracy... against their [Turkmen] areas."

"The PKK concentration in Tuz Khurmatu and Daqoq at first and then in Kirkuk, under the pretext of being a civil society organization, raises great concerns among Iraq's Turkmen components," he said, adding that, "The PKK is active in central Kirkuk with the full knowledge of Kirkuk's governor, Najmuddin Karim."

Salehi went on to note, "Iraq is just waiting for a new threat after Daesh, since the PKK was allowed to station [itself] in certain areas of Iraq, particularly Kirkuk, with the full knowledge of the Baghdad government."

Head of the Turkmeneli Party, Riyad Sari Kahya, expressed deep concerns over the presence of the PKK in Kirkuk, saying the organization "has been involved in long-term bloodshed, and are responsible for the death of thousands of people."

"Such organizations cannot be concentrated in our regions without the support of certain parties," he said.

Sari Kahya said these parties were "hostile to Turks in general and to the Turkmen, as they are part of the Turkish nation."

Meanwhile, the Turkish Air Force destroyed several terrorist camps belonging to the PKK in northern Iraq early yesterday, the military said.

Air raids on camps in Metina, Zap, Avaşin-Basyan and Gara led to the destruction of at least three caves and four bunkers, the Turkish General Staff said in a statement. Three camp areas were also destroyed in the attack.