Turkish warplanes bombed Kurdish rebel targets in northern Iraq on Saturday in the third confirmed cross-border offensive by Turkish forces in less than a week, a statement posted on the military's website said.
The military said the bombing lasted nearly a half-hour Saturday afternoon, and was followed by shelling from inside Turkish borders.
The statement did not say how deep into Iraqi territory the warplanes penetrated, or which areas were shelled.
It vowed to continue military operations on both sides of Turkish-Iraqi border "no matter how the conditions are."
Turkish jet fighters on Dec. 16 launched the first confirmed air assault on Iraqi soil since the U.S.-led invasion, bombing bases in northern Iraq held by the separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK.
Turkish forces periodically have shelled across the border, and at times have carried out limited raids on the Iraqi side.
The rebels have battled for autonomy in southeastern Turkey for more than two decades, and use strongholds in northern Iraq for cross-border strikes.
After a surge in rebel attacks in the past months, Turkey has said it can no longer tolerate the attacks on its troops, and Turkey's parliament in October authorized the military to strike back at the rebels inside Iraq.
In Saturday's statement, the military said "hundreds" had been killed in ongoing operations, citing "intelligence gathered from various sources."
It said footage showing the results of the operations would be released in coming days.
More World Headlines »
- Clinton, McCain win in New Hampshire
- Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton scored a surprising upset in the New Hampshire primary Tuesday night, while Republican Senator John McCain picked up his first win in the race for the U.S. presidency.
- Bush to promote Palestinian state on Mideast tour
- U.S. President George W. Bush said he will urge political leaders to lay out a vision for a Palestinian state when he tours the Middle East.
- Bhutto's son says he doesn't trust Pakistani officials
- Bilawal Bhutto Zardari called Tuesday for a UN-led investigation into his mother Benazir Bhutto's death, saying he didn't trust government officials to be appropriately transparent.
- Sentencing hearing begins for Padilla in U.S. terrorism support case
- A sentencing hearing for Jose Padilla — a U.S. citizen detained as an enemy combatant and convicted on terrorism support charges — and two other men began Tuesday in Miami.
- Opposition calls Kenya cabinet selection 'a slap in the face'
- Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki named half of his new cabinet Tuesday, angering opposition leaders who accuse him of winning a rigged election.
World Features
Blog Watch
Most Blogged about CBC.ca Articles