Turkish forces kill 5 PKK fighters in Batman
Fri, 3 Feb 2012 16:46 GMT
(Adds military statement on airstrikes)
DIYARBAKIR, Turkey, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Turkish security forces killed five Kurdish insurgents on Friday after discovering them hiding in a cave in the southeastern province of Batman, while warplanes launched strikes on militant targets in northern Iraq.
A statement on the military's website said the air strikes were successful and the planes had returned to base, but gave no other details.
The government has said it will hold a full investigation into an air strike on the Iraqi border on Dec. 28 that killed 35 civilians, described as cigarette and diesel smugglers, after they had been mistaken for militants.
More than 40,000 militants, soldiers and civilians have been killed since the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) began its fight for self-rule in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast in 1984.
Turkey, the United States and the European Union all classify the PKK as a terrorist organisation.
(Writing by Jon Hemming)
Leave a comment:
IMPORTANT: Your comment will not appear immediately as we vet all messages before publication. We don't publish comments that are racist or otherwise offensive. Nor do we publish comments that advertise products or services. Please keep your comment concise and do not write in capitals.
Post a Comment
Post a Comment