Iran resumes raids against PKK, despite Iraqi warning.

[kaya'08]

ISTANBUL - Iranian fighter jets and artillery resumed attacks targeting bases of a breakaway faction of the terror organization PKK in northern Iraq, according to reports on Wednesday, a day after Baghdad demanded a halt to the raids in a protest letter. (UPDATED)

Iran resumes bombing raids against PEJAK targets despite Iraqi warning

The Iranian armed forces bombed PEJAK positions in the Banjawin district east of Sulaimaniya on Tuesday with no casualties having been reported, Iraqi Kurdish news sources told Iran's Press TV.



Iranian helicopters last week attacked PEJAK targets in northern Iraq in a cross-border raid, the first time it had used aircraft against the breakaway faction.



Wednesday's raid came a couple of weeks after 26 people were killed in a fierce gun battle between Iranian police and the PEJAK, the PKK's Iranian wing, near the Iraqi border. Eighteen of those killed in the April 24 clash were Iranian policemen and eight were PEJAK members.



The Iraqi Foreign Ministry said Tuesday it summoned the Iranian ambassador to Baghdad on Monday and handed him a letter of protest over last week's air raid. The letter demanded an "immediate halt to these sorts of violations which continue to have negative repercussions on relations between the two countries."



Iran and Turkey have been long fighting against the terrorist movements operated by both the PEJAK and the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist group by Ankara and much of the international community, including the EU and the United States.

Iran resumes bombing raids against PEJAK targets despite Iraqi warning

This comes shortly after a Turkish air strike in northern Iraq kills 10 PKK terrorists in a joint US, Turkey cooperation against the terrorists in Northern Iraq, who use the region as a breading ground to attack areas in Turkey.

ISTANBUL - Ten PKK members were killed in a Turkish air strike last week targeting the terror organization positions in northern Iraq, the Anatolian Agency reported on Wednesday.

Turkish air strike kills 10 PKK terrorists, destroys bases in N. Iraq

The strike on April 30 also destroyed several hideouts in the Zap and Avashin-Basyan region and weapons depots used by the terrorists, the agency said.



The raid came a day after 10 Turkish soldiers were killed in attacks carried out by the terror organization PKK in the southeastern provinces of Diyarbakir and Hakkari.



The PKK, which launches cross-border attacks on Turkey from bases in northern Iraq and frequently uses remote-control landmines to target the country's security forces, is listed as a terrorist group by Turkey and much of the international community, including the EU and the United States.

Turkish air strike kills 10 PKK terrorists, destroys bases in N. Iraq