Istanbul, June 15 (Reuters) - Turkish warplanes have targeted Kurdish militant targets in various parts of northern Iraq on Sunday night in response to an escalation of terrorist attacks on Turkish military installations.
The Turkish Defense Ministry said on Twitter that "the paw-eagle operation has begun. Our aircraft is carrying the caves to the head of the terrorists."
Turkey regularly targets the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants, with Turkey mainly in Kurdish southeastern and northern Iraq.
Security forces have told Reuters that fighter jets have flown from various airports in Turkey, particularly in the southeastern cities of Diyarbakir and Malatya.
The Ministry of Defense said the air operation was aimed at PKK in Kandil, near Iran, as well as in the Iranian border areas, Sinjar, Jaap, Avastin-Basyan and Herkur.
"PKK and other terrorist elements are endangering the security of our people and borders, which are increasing every day in our ports and target areas."
PKK, designated as a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, took up arms against the Turkish state in 1984. More than 40,000 people have died in the conflict, centered in southeastern Turkey.
While Turkish warplanes often target PKK targets in northern Iraq, Turkey has warned that it is likely to target PKK targets in the Kandil Mountains in recent years. (Reporting by Darren Butler; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
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