Turkey says carried out new overnight air raids against PKK

Turkish war planes struck targets of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in northern Iraq and in southeast Turkey overnight, in a new wave of air raids against the Kurdish militant group, the prime minister’s office said Wednesday.

“Air operations were conducted throughout the night 28-29 July against the PKK terrorist group inside Turkey and outside,” it said in a statement, listing six PKK locations in northern Iraq hit by the war planes.

It said shelters, depots, logistical bases and caves found to be used by the PKK were hit in the air strikes.

The army has since Friday been carrying out daily air strikes against targets of the PKK in northern Iraq, as well as Islamic State (IS) jihadists in Syria, in what the government calls a “war on terror” in response to a spate of attacks.

“The Turkish Republic will continue its rightful fight on legitimate grounds within the framework of national and international law, without succumbing to the threats of terrorist organisations,” the statement added.

The prime minister’s office added that a total number of 1,302 people had now been detained across the country in a total of 39 provinces in raids against suspected members of IS, the PKK and other militant groups.