https://www.myjoyonline.com/turkish-jets-strike-is-and-pkk/-------https://www.myjoyonline.com/turkish-jets-strike-is-and-pkk/

Turkish jets strike IS and PKK

Turkish air force jets have carried out fresh strikes against Islamic State (IS) positions in Syria and also hit Kurdish militants in northern Iraq.

It was the second successive night that Turkey had targeted IS.

It follows a week which saw a bomb attack blamed on IS kill 32 people in the Turkish town of Suruc, and border clashes with the militant group.

The Iraq strikes were the first time Turkey had attacked the Kurdistan Workers' Party since a 2013 truce.

The group, also known as the PKK, has been fighting Turkey for an autonomous homeland for the Kurds for decades.

The PKK's military wing said it killed two Turkish police officers on Wednesday. The group claims the men had collaborated with IS in the bombing in Suruc, which targeted left-wing activists.

A government statement issued on Saturday said the air force had hit PKK shelters, bunkers, storage facilities and other "logistic points" in northern Iraq, including the Qandil mountains where the PKK's high command is based.

It did not give details of what the jets had targeted in their attacks on IS in Syria.

Turkey's military had also shelled Islamic State and PKK positions from across the Turkish border, the statement said.

Turkey was "determined to take every step to ensure the peace and security of our people", it added.

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has said the strikes against IS are part of a broad "process".

Turkey arrested hundreds of suspected IS supporters on Friday, and has also said it will let the US use a key airbase to attack IS targets.

Fresh raids by the security forces targeting suspected IS and PKK members are reported to have taken place early on Saturday in several Turkish provinces, including Istanbul, Ankara, Konya and Manisa.

The Turkish government has faced criticism at home and abroad for not doing enough against IS, despite being part of the international coalition fighting it.

Friday's air strikes marked the first time Turkey has confirmed air strikes against targets in Syria since IS began its advance through Iraq and Syria in 2013.

"This is a process," Mr Davutoglu said. "It is not limited to one day or to one region. The slightest movement threatening Turkey will be retaliated against in the strongest way possible."

He said Turkey was prepared to send troops across the border into Syria "if there was such a need".

The agreement to let the US use the Incirlik airbase, following months of negotiations, was finalised in a phone call between President Barack Obama and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

It could allow the US to step up air strikes against IS, as it is closer to northern Syria and Iraq than the Gulf, which currently serves as a launch-pad for bombing missions.

Mr Erdogan said the US-led coalition against IS would be allowed to use the base "within a certain framework" - but did not specify what this would be.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:  


DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.