Turkish jets hit PKK positions in northern Iraq

ANKARA – Turkish jets destroyed PKK weapons positions, arms dumps and shelters in northern Iraq late Tuesday, the military said in a statement.

Airstrikes hit targets in the Zap and Avasin-Basyan area near the mountainous border with Turkey, the Turkish General Staff said Wednesday.

The statement gave no further detail on the timing of the operation or the targets hit but said 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.