Turkey denies allegations 3 civilians killed in Iraq

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey on Monday denied foreign media reports that three civilians were killed during a security operation in northern Iraq, according to a Foreign Ministry source.

According to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, reports by foreign outlets that three civilians were killed in the operation involving Turkish warplanes were mere “allegations.”

The source said the operations were carried out in northern Iraq as part of anti-terrorism efforts.

Iraq has suffered a devastating security vacuum since mid-2014, when Daesh captured the northern city of Mosul – now the subject of a large offensive to retake it – and overran large swathes of territory in the northern and western parts of the country.