Middle East News
Turkish air force hits Kurdish camps in Iraq after convoy attacked
Aug 18, 2011, 2:39 GMT
Istanbul - The Turkish air force struck suspected encampments of the PKK Kurdish Workers Party in northern Iraq, hours after 12 Turkish troops were killed in an ambush nearby, news reports said.
Fifteen fighter jets late Wednesday bombed two bases of the PKK, which is outlawed in Turkey, broadcaster NTV said.
Operations began at 9 pm (1700 GMT), and lasted for several hours, the report said.
Istanbul has blamed the PKK for the fatal mine and gunfire attack earlier Wednesday on a military convoy in the south-eastern province of Hakkari, which borders Iraq.
In July, the PKK allegedly killed 13 Turkish soldiers in the bloodiest clash with the rebels for three years. At the weekend, three more soldiers were shot dead.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan Wednesday promised tougher action against the Kurdish militants.
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