Turkish airstrikes neutralize nine Kurdish militants in Northern Iraq

Ankara's Defense Ministry has reportedly said that Turkish airstrikes have hit Kurdish militant targets in rrn Iraq neutralizing nine terrorists. airstrikes took place in Hakurk and Hafta regions. re were earlier strikes as well in rrn Iraq region of Gara, where three terrorists were neutralized. strikes conducted by Turkey is said to be a part of regular raids against Kurdish militants in Iraq, however, y unrelated to planned operations against Kurdish forces in rrn Syria. 

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Turkey started a ground offensive and bombing campaign against outlawed Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK), where Turkish warplanes and attack helicopters reportedly struck targets in mountains of rrn Iraq. PKK has been fighting in insurgency in Turkey since 1984 and reportedly has rear bases in rrn Iraq. PKK is also blacklisted as a terrorist organization by Ankara and its Western allies. Turkey has also reportedly claimed that it will soon launch an offensive against Syrian Kurdish forces, which are tied to PKK. 

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Turkish attacks

In May when Turkish warplanes and attack helicopters struck targets in mountain of rrn Iraq, military h reportedly neutralized 19 Kurdish militants as its operation re entered fourth day. warplanes h also carried out strikes in border regions of rrn Iraq west of Hakuruk, destroying PKK gun positions, shelters, and ammunition stores. During 'Operation Claw' two of Turkish soldiers also died. cross-border push began with artillery and air-strikes before helicopters landed commandos in region.

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PKK leer Abdullah Ocalan, who has been reportedly jailed on an island near Istanbul since 1999 was also allowed in May to meet his lawyer after a hunger strike by Turkey's pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP) lawmakers and thousands of inmates. PKK is designated a terrorist group by Ankara, European Union, and United States. 

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(With inputs from ncies)