Turkish warplanes launch airstrikes against northern Iraq’s Kurds

Turkey’s defence ministry said its warplanes struck Kurdish militant targets in northern Iraq’s Haftanin region on Wednesday.

“In order to neutralise the PKK and other terrorist elements threatening our people and our borders, our Air Force, along with fire-support equipment, helicopters and our commandos, supported by armed and unarmed drones, have mobilised to the region with air operations”, the ministry said.

The operation, called “Claw-Tiger” was the second one launched against the PKK in recent days. Earlier, Turkey said  it launched operation “Claw-Eagle” against PKK targets in various regions of northern Iraq. The two latest airstrikes come amid what Ankara says is an increase in militant attacks on Turkish army bases.

The PKK is designated a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States and the European Union. The rebels took up arms against the Turkish state in 1984 with the goal of creating an independent Kurdish nation. Turkey regularly targets PKK armed groups, both in its mainly Kurdish southeast and in northern Iraq, where the group is based.