By RIA Novosti
Ankara : The Turkish army crossed the border with Iraq in a special operation against Kurdish militants, local newspapers reported Wednesday.
Turkish commandos supported by helicopters were chasing militants of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), 50 km deep inside the Iraqi territory, the Yeni Safak newspaper reported.
F-16 Falcon fighter-bombers and artillery were delivering pinpoint strikes at the militant bases inside the Iraqi territory, the newspaper said.
The Turkish armed forces stepped up their bombardment on the Iraqi border following Sunday’s terrorist attack that killed 12 Turkish soldiers and wounded 16 others, country’s third largest daily Zaman reported.
The newspaper cited a government spokesman as saying that the US was informed about the start of the cross-border operation, although Turkey’s military has not confirmed the media reports.
Last week, the Turkish parliament sanctioned military cross-border operations against the PKK, based in north Iraq. PKK said it is currently holding several soldiers hostage.
On Monday, eight soldiers were missing following clashes with Kurdish militants at the Iraqi border.
At least 12 soldiers and 34 Kurdish fighters were killed last Sunday, following an ambush by the militants.
Turkey’s National Security Council is meeting Wednesday to discuss further action against the PKK insurgents.
The US, NATO and the European Union have listed the PKK as a terrorist organization, which has been fighting for autonomy in southeast Turkey for nearly 25 years. The conflict has claimed 40,000 lives.