Turkish warplanes hit PKK targets in Turkey, northern Iraq

HAKKARİ

AA photo

Turkish warplanes have conducted airstrikes against outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) targets in the southeastern province of Hakkari and northern Iraq, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) has announced.

The jets carried out an air operation against PKK targets in the Avaşin and Basyan regions of northern Iraq late on Sept. 14. The jets also hit PKK positions in the Çukurca district of Hakkari, where clashes between security forces and PKK militants have intensified in recent days. 

Four militants were killed in the airstrikes carried out between 5:51 p.m. and 6:10 p.m., the TSK said, citing imagery obtained after the bombings.

“The warplanes returned to their bases safely,” the statement added. 

Another air operation was also conducted in Çukurca, in order to prevent militants from infiltrating into the military base zone in the Uzundere region of the district. The militants were hit from an armored vehicle, in addition to airstrikes. Two PKK militants were killed as a result. 

The airstrikes in Çukurca were conducted between 4:10 a.m. and 4:15 a.m. on Sept. 15, as the Turkish General Staff added the militants took the wounded ones away. 

Meanwhile, according to the military’s statement, a total of 201 PKK militants have been either killed or wounded in the operations in Çukurca. 

“A total of 201 terrorists were neutralized in the ongoing operations,” the TSK said on Sept. 15.

Also in Çukurca, PKK militants launched a mortar attack on the second border brigade command. No casualties were reported in the attack, as the mortars fell into a vacant area in a village.  

An operation was launched to apprehend the militants involved in the attack. 

Meanwhile, hand grenades were found under the dead body of a former village guard in the Kağızman district of the eastern province of Kars. Mikail Gülderen, 51, who was a shepherd, was allegedly murdered by PKK militants. 

His body was found on a road by his brother, who notified the gendarmerie. The gendarmes discovered that explosives were hidden under Gülderen’s dead body. 

The explosives was detonated in a controlled explosion and an investigation was launched into the killing of the shepherd.