Turkey launches new offensive against Kurds in northern Iraq – SME.sk

Information on the number of soldiers and aircraft involved in the incursion is not yet available. ANKARA. Turkey has launched a new ground and air cross-border offensive against Kurdish militants in northern Iraq. According to the AP, this was announced on Monday by Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar. Turkish fighters and artillery hit targets belonging to the Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK). Subsequently, the commandos, supported by helicopters and drones, crossed the border by land or were transported by helicopter, Akar said in a video posted on the Ministry of Defense’s website. The PKK has bases in northern Iraq and uses the territory to attack Turkey, AP added. Turkey has carried out many cross-border air and ground operations against the PKK in recent decades. “Our operation is progressing according to plan. The goals set for the first phase have been achieved,” the minister said. At the same time, the Minister of Defense declared that the Turkish leadership is determined to protect the Turkish nation from terrorism, which has “plagued our country for 40 years”. He announced that Turkey’s struggle “would continue until the last terrorist was neutralized”. The militant group did not comment on the latest developments. Since 1984, when the PKK, which the US and the European Union called a terrorist organization, launched an uprising in the majority Kurdish region in southeastern Turkey, tens of thousands of people have been killed. Turkey Subscribe to topic Subscribe New: Receive notifications of new articles in the monitored topic by e-mail. Try the new feature and turn on the subscription.