LibriumArcana.Games

Turkey planes bomb northern Iraq

Large numbers of Turkish fighter jets have bombed suspected Kurdish rebel bases in northern Iraq, reports say.

Turkish officials said the warplanes had targeted the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), in areas near the border.

But officials in northern Iraq said the planes had struck several villages. There were reports that one woman was killed, although this was unconfirmed.

Turkey's deputy prime minister said more strikes against "terrorists" were possible in the coming weeks.

"We, as the government, are resolute to remove this trouble from the agenda of our country," Cemil Cicek told the state-run Anatolia news agency.

Mr Cicek also called on Kurdish militants to lay down their arms and return to their homes, insisting their fight was futile.

Turkey has regularly targeted the PKK inside Iraq in recent months, but this is thought to be the first fighter jet raid outside its own territory.

Previous strikes had used artillery or helicopters.

'Comprehensive campaign'

The Turkish planes struck several targets in different areas of northern Iraq, according to reports. Private Turkish TV reports spoke of "large numbers" planes involved, with numbers ranging from 20 to 50.

The planes hit the regions of Zap, Hakurk and Avasin as well as areas in the Kandil mountains, the military said.

After the night-time strikes ended, artillery barrages continued across the border from the border town of Cukurca in Turkish territory, reports said.

One of the sorties hit an area near the Kandil mountains, a region further away from the border into Iraqi territory, and regularly cited by Turkey as a centre of PKK activity.

Turkey's military said a "comprehensive air campaign" had been carried out at 0100 on Sunday (2300 GMT on Saturday).

"The operations solely target the... terrorist movement. They are not conducted against people living in northern Iraq or local groups not engaged in enemy activity," the military said in a statement.

But local officials in northern Iraq spoke of families fleeing their homes.

A spokesman for Iraqi Kurdish forces said troops were being sent to the Kandil area to check for damage and possible casualties, the AFP news agency reported.

Bitter dispute

Ankara toughened its line against the PKK after a spate of rebel attacks inside Turkey that prompted widespread calls for action.

In October, Turkey's parliament voted to allow the military to launch operations into Iraq to combat the PKK, which had stepped up attacks in Turkey.

Ankara has massed up to 100,000 troops near the mountainous border with northern Iraq, backed by tanks, artillery and warplanes.

But Iraq and the US have urged Turkey not to carry out its threat.

As many as 3,000 PKK members are believed to be based inside northern Iraq. Turkey has accused the local Kurdish authorities of supporting them.