Turkish warplanes hit PKK in Iraqi Kurdistan: ministry

ANKARA,— Turkey launched a new wave of airstrikes on Tuesday, targeting locations in the mountainous regions of Iraqi Kurdistan, which it identified as strongholds of Kurdish PKK militants.

The Turkish Defense Ministry reported that its forces struck 20 locations across areas including Asos, Gara, Hakurk, Metina, Qandil, and Zap.

According to the ministry, the targets comprised “caves, bunkers, shelters, depots, and installations” allegedly used by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a group that has waged an armed struggle against Turkey since 1984.

The Turkish military claims the latest operation resulted in the deaths of numerous militants, though specific numbers were not provided.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to combating separatist groups, stating on Saturday that these factions pose a threat to both Turkey and Iraq.

The PKK, which seeks greater autonomy for the Kurdish population in Turkey Kurdistan, the Kurdish region in southeastern Turkey, operates from several bases within the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of Iraq.

Turkey has maintained a military presence in northern Iraq for the past 25 years, despite frequent objections from Baghdad.

The conflict between Turkey and the PKK, which began nearly four decades ago, has resulted in more than 40,000 casualties, including both Turkish soldiers and Kurdish fighters.

The PKK insists that its military actions are directed solely against Turkish military and security targets, avoiding civilian casualties.

The PKK enjoys widespread support from the Kurdish diaspora and a significant portion of Turkey’s Kurdish population, which numbers over 22 million out of the country’s 84 million residents.