Several PKK terrorist camps have been targeted in an air-supported counterterror operation conducted in northern Iraq's Zap and Avaşin regions, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) said Wednesday in a written statement.

The airstrike was launched Tuesday evening and destroyed numerous weapons, weapon pits and shelters used by the terrorist organization, the TSK statement said.

Meanwhile, the military said in a statement later in the evening that 13 terrorists, who had been preparing an attack in the region, were killed in air strikes in northern Iraq.

Founded in 1978, the PKK has waged a decades-long bloody campaign against Turkey.

The PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU, resumed its armed campaign in July 2015 after a brief reconciliation period.

Since that time, the PKK has been responsible for the deaths of some 1,200 security personnel and civilians, including women and children, while more than 4,000 security personnel and over 2,000 civilians have been injured.