Turkish jets carried out airstrikes on PKK positions in northern Iraq Monday, reportedly coordinated with Iranian and Iraqi intelligence, Turkish media outlets reported.
In a statement, the Turkish General Staff said the airstrikes were launched in the Asos region near the mountainous border with Turkey, destroying 41 targets, including shelters and tunnels used by the terror group. Airborne Warning and Control planes also supported the operation.
According to the Milliyet daily, the operation was carried out with the cooperation of the three countries. The Turkish Armed Forces reportedly made the operation part of the trilateral intelligence cooperation in the joint fight against terrorism.
Turkish fighter jets also conducted airstrikes on PKK targets in northern Iraq's Zap and Metina areas on Tuesday, killing eight terrorists and destroying two caves, a military statement said, adding that four other terrorists were killed in a clash with security forces in Turkey's eastern province of Tunceli.
A convergence as emerged between Ankara, Tehran and Baghdad before the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) made a controversial decision on Sept. 25 to hold an independence referendum from Iraq.
The three countries expressed the staunchest opposition against the move and said they would not allow the establishment of the independent state.
The Turkish and Iraqi armies made joint military drills at the common border just before the referendum, and Iraqi government forces, along with the Iran-backed Hashd al-Shaabi militias, launched an offensive on Oct. 16 to retaliate.
In a mainly bloodless advance, the forces reclaimed the entire oil-rich province of Kirkuk and some contested areas, stripping the KRG of a major chunk of its oil revenues and dealing a crippling blow to hopes for independence.
