Turkish Air Force eliminates 11 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq

By  Trend

The Turkish Air Force killed 11 members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorist group as part of the operation in northern Iraq, conducted against PKK July 4, the Turkish General Staff said in a message.

The operation to eliminate the terrorists was conducted in the Avashin and Baysan districts.

"As part of the operations, the PKK terrorists' strongholds have been also destroyed," the Turkish General Staff said.

Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the Turkish Armed Forces launched a new military operation in northern Iraq.

He added that the Turkish Air Force used 20 aircraft and destroyed 14 PKK bases in northern Iraq.

"Turkey is resolute in the fight against PKK," Erdogan said.

Earlier it was reported that within the operation against PKK in northern Iraq, the Turkish military moved deep into Iraqi territory by 73 kilometers.

The country’s Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said earlier that Turkey has 11 military bases in northern Iraq, which greatly facilitate the fight against PKK.

The conflict between Turkey and the PKK, which demands the creation of an independent Kurdish state, has lasted more than 25 years, claiming more than 40,000 lives. The PKK is recognized as a terrorist organization by the UN and the EU.