Turkish jets destroy PKK threats in Iraq

Ankara [Turkey], Feb 2 (ANI): Turkish jets destroyed a number of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) threats in northern Iraq, the country's military said on Friday.

The Turkish General Staff said in a statement, "The airstrikes were carried out on Thursday in the Hakurk and Avasin-Basyan regions of northern Iraq."

"Four shelters, hideouts, and weapons pits used by the terror organization (PKK) were destroyed during the airstrikes", the statement added.

The Turkish military continued that the PKK forces were preparing for an attack on a Turkish convoy and their bases in the region, the Anadolu news agency reported.

The PKK has its main base in the Qandil Mountains, near the Iraq-Iran border. Turkey has been conducting regular airstrikes in northern Iraq since 2015.

Turkey launched 'Operation Olive Branch' to filtrate PKK and Islamic State (IS) militants from Afrin in north-western Syria on January 20.

At least 823 militants have been "neutralised" since the beginning of the operation in Afrin and parts of Iraq, the Turkish General Staff said on Friday.

The Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralised" in their statements to say that a terrorist has either been killed or captured.

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the ongoing military operations will "effectively crush" the PKK militants.

The PKK which is based in Turkey, Iraq, and parts of Syria has been involved in an armed conflict with Turkey. Its aim is to achieve the objective of creating an independent Kurdish state.

It has been listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union.

The PKK is responsible for the deaths of more than 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians.

Turkey has been embroiled in a state of emergency since last year, ever since the failed military coup against Erdogan and subsequent terrorist attacks by local militants and the IS group in the country. (ANI)