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Turkey's air force hits IS and PKK in Syria and Iraq Turkey's air force hits IS and PKK in Syria and Iraq
(about 3 hours later)
Turkish air force jets have carried out fresh strikes against Islamic State (IS) positions in Syria and also hit Kurdish militants in northern Iraq.Turkish air force jets have carried out fresh strikes against Islamic State (IS) positions in Syria and also hit Kurdish militants in northern Iraq.
It was the second successive night that Turkey had targeted IS.It was the second successive night that Turkey had targeted IS.
It follows a week which saw a bomb attack blamed on IS kill 32 people in the Turkish town of Suruc, and border clashes with the militant group.It follows a week which saw a bomb attack blamed on IS kill 32 people in the Turkish town of Suruc, and border clashes with the militant group.
The Iraq strikes were the first time Turkey had attacked the Kurdistan Workers' Party since a 2013 truce.The Iraq strikes were the first time Turkey had attacked the Kurdistan Workers' Party since a 2013 truce.
The group, also known as the PKK, has been fighting Turkey for an autonomous homeland for the Kurds for decades.The group, also known as the PKK, has been fighting Turkey for an autonomous homeland for the Kurds for decades.
In a statement on its website quoted by Reuters news agency, the PKK said: "The truce has no meaning any more after these intense air strikes by the occupant Turkish army."
The PKK's military wing said it killed two Turkish police officers on Wednesday. The group claims the men had collaborated with IS in the bombing in Suruc, which targeted left-wing activists.The PKK's military wing said it killed two Turkish police officers on Wednesday. The group claims the men had collaborated with IS in the bombing in Suruc, which targeted left-wing activists.
A government statement issued on Saturday said the air force had hit PKK shelters, bunkers, storage facilities and other "logistic points" in northern Iraq, including the Qandil mountains where the PKK's high command is based.A government statement issued on Saturday said the air force had hit PKK shelters, bunkers, storage facilities and other "logistic points" in northern Iraq, including the Qandil mountains where the PKK's high command is based.
It did not give details of what the jets had targeted in their attacks on IS in Syria.It did not give details of what the jets had targeted in their attacks on IS in Syria.
Turkey's military had also shelled Islamic State and PKK positions from across the Turkish border, the statement said.Turkey's military had also shelled Islamic State and PKK positions from across the Turkish border, the statement said.
Turkey was "determined to take every step to ensure the peace and security of our people", it added.Turkey was "determined to take every step to ensure the peace and security of our people", it added.
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has said the strikes against IS are part of a broad "process". Areas of northern Syria cleared of IS fighters will become a natural "safe zones", Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters on Saturday.
Turkey arrested hundreds of suspected IS supporters on Friday, and has also said it will let the US use a key airbase to attack IS targets.Turkey arrested hundreds of suspected IS supporters on Friday, and has also said it will let the US use a key airbase to attack IS targets.
Fresh raids by the security forces targeting suspected IS and PKK members are reported to have taken place early on Saturday in several Turkish provinces, including Istanbul, Ankara, Konya and Manisa. Fresh raids by the security forces targeting suspected IS and PKK members took place early on Saturday in several Turkish provinces, including Istanbul, Ankara, Konya and Manisa.
Analysis: Guney Yildiz, BBC News Analysis: Mark Lowen, BBC Turkey correspondent
Picking two simultaneous fights with both the Islamic State and the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) is a really difficult game to play for Turkey's military strategists. Within a week, Turkey has gone from reluctant observer of the coalition against IS to military strikes, opening up its bases to warplanes and bombing of PKK positions. What changed?
Tactics like employing suicide bombs against civilians make IS a very dangerous group. The PKK, on the other hand, is a totally different organisation with mass support across Kurdish regions of Turkey and Syria. The Turkish-Kurdish opposition People's Democracy Party (HDP), which is seen as close to the PKK, won 13% of the vote in June's general election. Partly it's months of negotiations between Washington and Ankara. General John Allen, the US envoy for the anti-IS coalition, has paid several visits here to twist arms. The Turkish government pushed for a no-fly area to be implemented inside Syria. It appears Washington gave some ground, accepting a "buffer zone" to clear IS militants from close to the Turkish border, patrolled by US and Turkish warplanes.
The air strikes on the PKK bases in Iraqi Kurdistan follow a gradual increase in tension between the Turkish government and the Kurdish movement in the run-up to the elections. The suicide bomb last week in Suruc, which killed 32 people and was blamed on IS, was a catalyst.
The two sides have been engaged in a peace process that started in early 2013 and a ceasefire has held for the best part of two years. Turkish officials say tension has risen because the PKK leadership has refused to disarm and has started to carry out attacks against security forces. However, the PKK accuses the government of publicly abandoning the peace process, while adopting a nationalist discourse and cracking down on Kurdish activists. But it seems Turkey insisted that strikes against IS go hand-in-hand with those against the PKK. That complicates matters: the coalition is working with Kurdish forces against IS and a fragile ceasefire with the PKK may now end, raising fears of renewed Kurdish violence in Turkey. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has one eye on possible new elections in the autumn, hoping to court nationalist voters. A hard line against the PKK would help that.
Profile: The PKKProfile: The PKK
Suruc massacre highlights Turkey's Islamic State dilemmaSuruc massacre highlights Turkey's Islamic State dilemma
The Turkish government has faced criticism at home and abroad for not doing enough against IS, despite being part of the international coalition fighting it.The Turkish government has faced criticism at home and abroad for not doing enough against IS, despite being part of the international coalition fighting it.
Friday's air strikes marked the first time Turkey has confirmed air strikes against targets in Syria since IS began its advance through Iraq and Syria in 2013.Friday's air strikes marked the first time Turkey has confirmed air strikes against targets in Syria since IS began its advance through Iraq and Syria in 2013.
"This is a process," Mr Davutoglu said. "It is not limited to one day or to one region. The slightest movement threatening Turkey will be retaliated against in the strongest way possible." "This is a process," Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said. "It is not limited to one day or to one region. The slightest movement threatening Turkey will be retaliated against in the strongest way possible."
He said Turkey was prepared to send troops across the border into Syria "if there was such a need".He said Turkey was prepared to send troops across the border into Syria "if there was such a need".
The agreement to let the US use the Incirlik airbase, following months of negotiations, was finalised in a phone call between President Barack Obama and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.The agreement to let the US use the Incirlik airbase, following months of negotiations, was finalised in a phone call between President Barack Obama and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
It could allow the US to step up air strikes against IS, as it is closer to northern Syria and Iraq than the Gulf, which currently serves as a launch-pad for bombing missions.It could allow the US to step up air strikes against IS, as it is closer to northern Syria and Iraq than the Gulf, which currently serves as a launch-pad for bombing missions.
Mr Erdogan said the US-led coalition against IS would be allowed to use the base "within a certain framework" - but did not specify what this would be.Mr Erdogan said the US-led coalition against IS would be allowed to use the base "within a certain framework" - but did not specify what this would be.
A return to IncirlikA return to Incirlik
The US military is more than familiar with the southern Turkish base, and its recent history is tied closely with recent US military operations.The US military is more than familiar with the southern Turkish base, and its recent history is tied closely with recent US military operations.
What is your reaction to the Syrian air strikes and the raids in Turkey? Are you nearby? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your story.What is your reaction to the Syrian air strikes and the raids in Turkey? Are you nearby? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your story.
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