Turkish Armed Forces launch airstrikes in N. Iraq

ANKARA (AA) – Turkish Armed Forces have launched airstrikes against “terrorist” positions in northern Iraq on Monday.

The General Staff said in a statement Tuesday that Turkish Armed Forces had struck “terrorist” positions in the Harquq region of northern Iraq in accordance with data provided by military intelligence.

The airstrikes took place between 11.05 p.m. - 11.55 p.m. (2005GMT - 2055GMT) on Monday and destroyed the “terrorist organization's positions”, said the statement.

The statement did not specify the terrorist organization that was targeted though Turkish Armed Forces have been regularly launching airstrikes against the PKK in the area.

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization also by the U.S., and the EU -- resumed its 30-year armed campaign against the Turkish state in July 2015.

Since then, around 500 security personnel, including troops, police officers, and village guards, have been martyred, and over 4,900 PKK terrorists killed in operations across Turkey and northern Iraq.