Türkiye launches airstrikes against Kurdish militants in Iraq and Syria

The Turkish Army launched airstrikes on Monday night against Kurdish militants in northern Iraq and Syria, destroying 23 targets, the Turkish Defense Ministry reports.

From Ankara they stated that they carried out the attacks with the aim of “preventing terrorist attacks” against the Turkish people and guaranteeing the security of the borders. “In accordance with our self-defense rights derived from Article 51 of the United Nations Treaty, air operations were carried out on terrorist targets located […] in northern Iraq and northern Syria on January 15, 2024, at 10:00 p.m.,” reads the agency’s statement.

In total, “23 targets were destroyed, including caves, bunkers, tunnels and ammunition depots” that were allegedly used by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, considered a terrorist organization by Ankara, the Ministry notes. In addition, many militiamen were “neutralized” during the operation.

The escalation of violence began on Friday, when nine Turkish soldiers were killed in clashes with Kurdish militants in northern Iraq, prompting Ankara to launch airstrikes there and in northern Syria.

After the incident, the Turkish authorities reported the arrest by the Police of 16 people for “glorifying terrorism”, as well as the “neutralization” in northern Iraq of a high-level member of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party. With RT

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