This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/25/turkish-jets-hit-kurdish-militants-in-iraq-as-well-as-isis-targets-in-syria
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Turkish jets hit Kurdish militants in Iraq and Isis targets in Syria | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Turkish jets struck camps belonging to Kurdish militants in northern Iraq, authorities said on Saturday – the first strike since a 2013 peace deal – as Ankara also bombed Islamic State positions in Syria. | Turkish jets struck camps belonging to Kurdish militants in northern Iraq, authorities said on Saturday – the first strike since a 2013 peace deal – as Ankara also bombed Islamic State positions in Syria. |
| The strikes in Iraq targeted the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, whose affiliates have been effective in battling Isis. The strikes further complicate the US-led war against the extremists, which has relied on Kurdish forces making gains in both Iraq and Syria. | The strikes in Iraq targeted the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, whose affiliates have been effective in battling Isis. The strikes further complicate the US-led war against the extremists, which has relied on Kurdish forces making gains in both Iraq and Syria. |
| Related: US defense chief meets with Kurds in Iraq to build strategy against Isis | Related: US defense chief meets with Kurds in Iraq to build strategy against Isis |
| Zagros Hiwa, a spokesman in Iraq for the PKK, which has been fighting Turkey for autonomy since 1984 and is considered a terrorist organisation by Ankara and its allies, said the strikes was likely to spell the end of 2013 peace agreement. | Zagros Hiwa, a spokesman in Iraq for the PKK, which has been fighting Turkey for autonomy since 1984 and is considered a terrorist organisation by Ankara and its allies, said the strikes was likely to spell the end of 2013 peace agreement. |
| “Turkey has basically ended the cease-fire,” Hiwa said, declining to elaborate further. He said the PKK was still assessing the damage caused by the strikes, though they didn’t appear to cause casualties. | “Turkey has basically ended the cease-fire,” Hiwa said, declining to elaborate further. He said the PKK was still assessing the damage caused by the strikes, though they didn’t appear to cause casualties. |
| The jets hit PKK shelters, bunkers, caves, storages facilities and other “logistical points”, a statement from the Turkish prime minister’s office said. It said areas targeted included the Qandil mountains, where the PKK’s command is based. | The jets hit PKK shelters, bunkers, caves, storages facilities and other “logistical points”, a statement from the Turkish prime minister’s office said. It said areas targeted included the Qandil mountains, where the PKK’s command is based. |
| The statement did not specify Isis targets that were struck in Syria in a second night of bombings, but described the airstrikes in Syria and Iraq as being “effective”. | The statement did not specify Isis targets that were struck in Syria in a second night of bombings, but described the airstrikes in Syria and Iraq as being “effective”. |
| Turkey’s military also shelled Isis and PKK positions in Syria from across the Turkish border, the government said. | Turkey’s military also shelled Isis and PKK positions in Syria from across the Turkish border, the government said. |
| Tensions have flared with Kurds in recent days after an Isis suicide bombing in the south-eastern Turkish city of Suruc on Monday killed 32 people. Kurdish groups held the Turkish government responsible for the blast, saying it had not been aggressive in battling Isis. | Tensions have flared with Kurds in recent days after an Isis suicide bombing in the south-eastern Turkish city of Suruc on Monday killed 32 people. Kurdish groups held the Turkish government responsible for the blast, saying it had not been aggressive in battling Isis. |
| On Wednesday, the PKK claimed responsibility for the killing of two Turkish police officers near the Kurdish majority city of Sanliurfa, near the Syrian border. | On Wednesday, the PKK claimed responsibility for the killing of two Turkish police officers near the Kurdish majority city of Sanliurfa, near the Syrian border. |
| In other attacks, seven police officers were wounded after suspected PKK militants hurled a small bomb at a police station in the town of Bismil, near the mainly Kurdish city of Diyarbakir, the Dogan news agency reported on Friday. Assailants also hurled a small bomb at officers inside a police vehicle in the town of Semdinli, near the border with Iraq, the agency said. | In other attacks, seven police officers were wounded after suspected PKK militants hurled a small bomb at a police station in the town of Bismil, near the mainly Kurdish city of Diyarbakir, the Dogan news agency reported on Friday. Assailants also hurled a small bomb at officers inside a police vehicle in the town of Semdinli, near the border with Iraq, the agency said. |
| Turkey started attacking Isis positions after the suicide bombing and an extremist ambush that killed a Turkish soldier. | Turkey started attacking Isis positions after the suicide bombing and an extremist ambush that killed a Turkish soldier. |
| On Friday, three F-16 jets struck Isis targets that included two command centres and a gathering point near the Turkish border in Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said nine Isis militants were killed in the raids. The extremists have yet to comment on the strikes. | On Friday, three F-16 jets struck Isis targets that included two command centres and a gathering point near the Turkish border in Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said nine Isis militants were killed in the raids. The extremists have yet to comment on the strikes. |
| Turkey also announced on Friday it was allowing its air bases to be used by the US-led coalition forces for operations against Isis extremists. Turkey until now had been reluctant to take part in US-led coalition air strikes against Isis. | Turkey also announced on Friday it was allowing its air bases to be used by the US-led coalition forces for operations against Isis extremists. Turkey until now had been reluctant to take part in US-led coalition air strikes against Isis. |