ANKARA (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 28th May, 2019) The Turkish forces are conducting a large-scale operation against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq's Hakurk region, the country's Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.
"The anti-terrorist operation in the north of Iraq has been carried out from the second half of the day of May 27 in the framework of Operation Pence. Aircraft and artillery attacked terrorists' positions, and special forces joined the operation in later. The Atak attack helicopters are also involved. The operation continues, it is aimed at neutralizing terrorists and destroying their shelters in Hakurk," the ministry said in a statement.
The Turkish government has been fighting the PKK, which seeks to establish a Kurdish autonomy in Turkey, since the early 1980s. The PKK and Ankara agreed on a ceasefire in 2013, but it collapsed just two years later after a number of terror attacks allegedly committed by PKK militants.
Turkish security forces carry out regular anti-PKK raids across the country and conduct airstrikes against the group in northern Iraq.
