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News ID: 89693
Publish Date : 28 April 2021 - 20:46

Turkish Jets, Troops Launch New Incursion Into Iraq

ANKARA (Dispatches) – Turkish warplanes were continuing on Wednesday to strike Kurdish militant targets in northern Iraq, while commando troops were conducting a search and sweep operation, Turkey’s defense ministry said, as the military pressed ahead with its latest incursion into the neighboring region.
Turkey’s military on Friday launched a new ground and air offensive against militants of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, which maintain bases in northern Iraq.
It was the first Turkish incursion into the region since February, when 13 Turkish citizens, who were abducted by Kurdish militants, were found dead in a cave complex in an apparently botched operation to rescue them.
The PKK is listed as a terror group by Turkey and much of the international community.  
The PKK has described the latest incursion as a "genocidal attack” and called on "world democracies” to take a stance against Turkey.
The Turkish air force has been carrying out operations against the PKK in the country’s southeastern border region as well as in northern Iraq and neighboring Syria.
However, officials in the Iraqi Kurdistan say some of the Turkish strikes target civilians.
Baghdad views Turkey’s airstrikes on its Kurdistan region as a violation of the Arab country’s sovereignty and has repeatedly called on Ankara to stop its unlawful raids.
The Turkish strikes have prompted Baghdad to summon Ankara’s ambassador several times. Iraq has also warned that it has the means of confronting Ankara’s aggression.