Turkish jets bomb northern Iraq, hit 'PKK targets'

Turkey says its warplanes have destroyed at least 18 targets reportedly belonging to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militant group in northern Iraq.

The operation took place during the weekend, Turkey's official Anadolu news agency reported on Sunday.

It hit the Hakurk, Zap, Metina, Gara, and Avasin-Basyan regions of northern Iraq.

The militants have been fighting a decades-long war against Ankara in quest for an independent state in southeastern Turkey, in which around 40,000 people have been killed. 

Since January, Turkey has also been waging a concerted operation against Kurdish militants known as People's Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria. The Turkish administration says the YPG is associated with the PKK.

The Syria attacks have, however, forgone Damascus' approval. They have also pit Turkey against the United States which supports the militants.

SS