Turkey launches artillery, airstrikes in Kurdistan mountains

[Anthea]

Turkey launches artillery, airstrikes in Kurdistan mountains

Turkey launched airstrikes and artillery fire at sites within northern Erbil province on Thursday evening, officials confirmed.

“Turkish artillery units started intensely shelling the border areas of the Kurdistan Region near Sidakan town in Soran district,” Ihsan Chalabi, Sidakan mayor, told Rudaw. “Turkish warplanes simultaneously bombed Khuakurk.”

Chalabi said the bombings did not cause casualties.

The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) is believed to have bases in the area.

Due to frequent attacks by Turkey in the area, Chalabi said, civilians had already left.

Turkey frequently carries out airstrikes on alleged PKK locations in the Kurdistan Region's mountains where the PKK has its headquarters.

Last month, Turkish warplanes carried out several aerial attacks on Mount Asos in Sulaimani province, resulting in casualties and material damage.

The PKK, named a terrorist organization by Turkey, the EU, and the United States, has an estimated 5,000 guerrilla fighters stationed mostly in remote border areas of the Kurdistan Region.

http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/141220173