Turkish warplanes hit PKK targets in northern Iraq, Turkey’s southeast

ANKARA

Turkish warplanes have conducted airstrikes against outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) targets in both the southeastern province of Hakkari and northern Iraq.

The jets hit PKK targets in Hakkari’s rural Şemdinli district between 6:47 a.m. and 7:31 a.m. on July 8, according to the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). 

Another air operation was carried out in the Avaşin/ Basyan region in northern Iraq between 7:52 a.m. and 8:54 a.m. 

Seven targets in northern Iraq and eight targets in Şemdinli were destroyed upon received intelligence and 12 militants were killed, the TSK statement added. 

Shelters belonging to PKK militants were also destroyed in the operation in Hakkari. 

The warplanes returned to their bases after the operations. 

Also early on July 8, PKK militants opened fire on several army bases in Şemdinli with automatic weapons. Security officers returned fire and the militants dispersed, reported Doğan News Agency. 

An operation to apprehend the PKK militants involved in the attack on the army bases was ongoing, while PKK targets in the Balkaya mountains were hit with artillery for four hours. 

Meanwhile, clashes erupted between local village guards and PKK militants in the Kulp district of the southeastern province of Diyarbakır late on July 7. 

The militants were stopping cars at around 9 p.m. and checking the identities of the occupants of the vehicles, reported Doğan News Agency. The village guards arrived at the scene after villagers notified them of the PKK militants checking their IDs. 

Clashes erupted between the village guards and the militants and reinforcements were sent to the scene.