Operations against PKK in northern Iraq

ISTANBUL

DHA photo

An air operation named "Panther operation" was launched on Sunday by the Turkish military against militants of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the north of Iraq.

In the two-hour operation, Turkish F-16 jets that took off from Diyarbakır bombarded PKK camps in northern Iraq, Kandil, Zap and Hakurk. The targets were PKK militants who had passed to Iraqi side of the border to find a safe place for the winter.

Several anti-aircraft batteries belonging to the PKK were neutralized during the operation.

Additionally, five PKK militants were killed by the Turkish army in clashes during another operation on Cudi Mountain on Saturday.

The PKK is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU.