Turkey Bombs Kurdish Targets Near Iraq To Retaliate Against Kurdish Attacks

Oct 15, 2014 03:06 AM EDT

(Photo : Reuters/Umit Bektas) A Kurdish protester throws stones at an armed military tank near the Turkish-Syrian border in solidarity with Kurdish protesters in Turkey. Turkish Kurds have staged deadly street protests last week over Turkey's government's refusal to aid Kurdish militiamen defending the Islamic State-besieged town of Kobani.

As coalition forces mount airstrikes targeting Islamic State positions in the Syrian town of Kobani, the Turkish government was retaliating against Kurdish insurgents attacking its military posts near Iraq with air strikes late Monday.

Turkish warplanes and artillery launched repeated airstrikes against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) positions in the southeastern province of Hakkari.

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A Turkish security source speaking on condition of anonymity verified with AFP that on Monday, F-16 and F-4 jets dropped bombs on the mostly Kurdish village of Daglica following attacks against the Turkish police station there.

Also on Monday, Turkish helicopters attacked suspected Kurdish rebel positions in the eastern Turkish village of Geyiksuyu after reports of raids mounted by the militants.

While Turkey's military did not immediately comment or confirm the airstrikes, it said on its website that outposts in four separate provinces have been attacked by Kurdish insurgents since Saturday.

The clashes mark the first escalation of conflict since the 2013 cease-fire between Turkey and PKK, a group Turkey and its international allies as terrorists. PKK controls three Syrian towns, including Kobani, through its Kurdish affiliate, People's Protection Units.

The group confirmed the attacks on two of its bases, saying that it has not suffered any casualty.

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters that Turkish armed forces have attacked to abate "very serious harassment fire" from the Kurds.

"It is impossible for us to show patience or make concessions against this," the prime minister said.

The airstrikes are linked to Ankara's refusal to allow PKK fighters to cross Turkey's border and join the fighting in the Islamic State-besieged town of Kobani.

Earlier this month, 30 people died and more than 300 people were left wounded in violent street clashes between riot police and Kurds over Ankara's lack of military intervention in Kobani.

Tagspolitics, War Conflict, Asia, Kurdish People, Kurdish-Turkish conflict, Kurdistan Workers' Party