Turkish warplanes renew airstrikes on PKK following day of artillery shelling

DOHUK, Kurdistan Region – Several Turkish fighter jets launched a series of air raids against Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) bases in the mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan Tuesday night, said a Rudaw reporters on the scene.

“Eight Turkish F-16s fiercely attacked Mount Matin near the city of Dohuk tonight,” said Nachirvan Hussein, Rudaw’s reporter.

Meanwhile, Bakhtiar Ghader, Rudaw corresponent in Soran district reported that six Turkish jets carried out attacks on the Balakayeti Mountains.

Villagers in the area also confirmed ongoing sporadic air strikes by Turkish warplanes Tuesday night.    

Turkish attacks on PKK’s mountain bases have been ongoing since the early hours of Saturday.

Tuesday’s strikes followed a day of shelling by the Turkish artillery.

The latest conflict has brought to a halt and possible end of a peace agreement reached between Ankara and the PKK two years ago.

The airstrikes coincide with nationwide raids inside Turkey against the PKK and serious confrontations between Kurdish activists and the Turkish police.