- Title: TURKEY: Turkish military says it hits rebel targets in North Iraq
- Date: 18th December 2008
- Summary: CIZRE, TURKEY (DECEMBER 17, 2008) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ARMY CONVOY PASSING THROUGH BORDER TOWN VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS ON GROUND VARIOUS OF ARMY TRUCKS MOVING
- Embargoed: 2nd January 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Turkey
- Country: Turkey
- Topics: Defence / Military
- Reuters ID: LVADB65F63HW42RVAQ8W323DD3V3
- Story Text: Turkish armed forces launch airstrikes on PKK targets in the Kandil region of Northern Iraq, the Turkish Chief of Staff reported on a Turkish military website.
Turkish warplanes struck Kurdish guerrilla targets in northern Iraq on Wednesday (December 17), the Turkish military said, in a second consecutive day of strikes.
The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) targets were in the mountainous Kandil region and all the jets returned safely to their bases, the armed forces statement said.
There was no mention of damage caused by the strikes but the military said care was taken to prevent any harm to civilians in the affected area.
"Turkish Air Force warplanes effectively struck PKK terror group targets in the Kandil region of northern Iraq on December 17," the statement said.
Ankara has boosted military action against the PKK in recent months, as casualties on both sides have risen. PKK rebels claimed responsibility for blowing up a section of the Kirkuk-Ceyhan oil pipeline between Iraq and Turkey last month.
Turkey, the European Union and United States view the PKK as a militant organisation. Around 40,000 people have been killed in fighting between the PKK and the military since 1984, when the PKK took up arms with the aim of establishing an ethnic homeland in southeast Turkey. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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