Turkish warplanes attack Kurdish targets in northern Iraq

ISTANBUL - Turkish warplanes launched an airstrike operation against some Kurdish militant targets in northern Iraq Sunday night, local media reported on Monday, citing the Turkish Defense Ministry.

The airstrike, coded the Claw-Eagle Operation, targeted a stronghold of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants near the Iranian border and some bases in other areas, the ministry said.

"The PKK and other terrorist elements" are attacking Turkish outposts and bases "every day" and threatening the security of the people of Turkey and its border, it said.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union, has been rebelling against the Turkish government for over 30 years, which has caused the death of more than 40,000 people.

Turkey has long been conducting operations against the PKK group in southeastern Turkey and in northern Iraq where the group has hideouts. These operations had been intensified in the past few months.