Turkey Says It Hit More Than 500 Kurdish Targets In Northern Iraq

Last updated: 2020/06/18 at 1:42 PM

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In this photo taken Monday, June 15, 2020, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, right, and Chief of Staff Gen. Yasar Guler wearing face masks to protect against the coronavirus, monitor the operation at a military headquarters in Ankara, Turkey. Turkey said Wednesday it has airlifted troops for a cross-border ground operation against Kurdish militants in northern Iraq. The airborne offensive in Iraq's Haftanin region, some 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the border, was launched following "intense" artillery fire into the area, a Defense Ministry statement said. (Turkish Defense Ministry via AP, Pool)

Turkish military has destroyed more than 500 targets of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Haftanin region of northern Iraq, semi-official Anadolu Agency reported on Thursday.

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In the first 36 hours of the Operation Claw-Tiger, Turkish forces hit over 500 targets of the PKK with F-16 jets, howitzers and multiple rockets, the agency quoted anonymous security sources as saying.

Turkey has launched operation claw-tiger in northern Iraq with its commando forces supported by air elements on Wednesday.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union, has been rebelling against the Turkish government for over 30 years, which has claimed the lives of more than 40,000 people.