A statement issued in the web-page of the Turkish General Staff late Tuesday said a group of the PKK had been spotted trying to cross the Turkish-Iraqi border and had been intercepted by Turkish troops. The retreating band of terrorists had been followed in hot pursuit by units of the Turkish armed forces, the statement said.
Early on Tuesday, news agencies reported that up to 700 Turkish troops had crossed into northern Iraq, advancing up to two and a half kilometres.
According to the General Staff, the PKK had suffered heavy losses.
The General Staff also said the PKK had suffered heavily in a series of air raid conducted by the Turkish air force on the early hours of December 16, though it was not possible to assess the number of terrorists killed or wounded after the air operation in the north of Iraq and the Kandil Mountain region.
“What is real is that the terrorist organisation PKK was dealt a heavy blow both from an infrastructure perspective and human resources,” General Staff statement said. “Assessments on the results of the air operation are continuing. It is not possible to assess the exact number of terrorists rendered ineffective. The air operation hit many facilities in which PKK terrorists sheltered. The final evaluation of the air operation will be shared with the public. Accordingly, it is important not to believe news that are not confirmed by the Turkish General Staff and that are not based on information and documents.”
The military denied claims by Iraqi officials that the air raid had damaged hospitals, houses and bridges, and caused civilian casualties.
These claims were a clear indication of the influence certain sources have on the Iraqi state, the statement said.
The General Staff statement said that if villages had been bombed, there would have been hundreds of civilian casualties.
