Turkish jets hit PKK arms dumps in northern Iraq

By Mehmet Tosun

ANKARA

Airstrikes on PKK bases in northern Iraq on Wednesday destroyed arms dumps and shelters, the military said in a statement.

The airstrikes targeted the Zap, Metina and Avasin-Basyan regions, according to Thursday’s statement on the Turkish Armed Forces’ website.

No further detail was given about the timing of the operation but all aircraft returned safely.

Airstrikes on PKK targets in southeast Turkey and northern Iraq, where the terror group has its main base in the Qandil region near the Iranian border, have been carried out regularly since July 2015, when the PKK resumed its armed campaign.

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the EU and U.S. -- has killed more than 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians since taking up arms again.

Reporting by Mehmet Tosun; Writing by Merve Aydogan