Turkey hits PKK targets in northern Iraq

ANKARA

Turkish warplanes carried out air strikes against outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) targets in the Zap region of northern Iraq on May 4. 

Air strikes were also carried out against the outlawed group in the Çukurca district of the southeastern province of Hakkari. 

Two PKK militants were killed and seven soldiers were wounded in clashes that erupted in Çukurca on May 4.

Security forces determined a group of PKK militants in Çukurca where the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) carried out air strikes against eight targets with F-16s and Cobra helicopters. 

Clashes erupted after PKK militants wanted to attack the security forces from the Iraqi side, which resulted in the deaths of PKK militants, wounding seven soldiers, of whom one was severely injured. 

The Hakkari Governor’s Office in a statement after the incidents said the militants attempted to sneak into the Güvendağı military base region at around 10 p.m. on May 3.

“Searches were conducted in the area and plenty of rocket launchers and Kalashnikov rifles were seized. The wounded soldiers are receiving treatment in the Hakkari State Hospital,” the statement released on May 4 said. 

The TSK also released a statement on the issue, saying that the clashes started late on May 3 and continued until 3 a.m. on May 4. According to the army, four weapon launching positions, two caves and two shelters were also destroyed.