(AKI) - Turkish warplanes bombed suspected Kurdish separatist strongholds in northern Iraq on Tuesday, the army said on its website. The jets targeted suspects linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the Hakurk, Avasin-Basyan and Zap regions of northern Iraq. "The planes returned safely to base after successfully completing their mission," the army said.
No civilians have been struck during the raids.
Violence has increased between Turkish security forces and the separatist PKK rebels in recent weeks. Turkey has stepped up its military response since an attack by the PKK which killed 17 Turkish soldiers earlier this month. The Turkish Parliament also renewed a mandate to allow military raids on separatists in northern Iraq.