Turkey launches offensive against Kurdish militants in Iraq

At least 19 militants were killed while four Turkish troops were wounded during the offensive, the ministry said

Turkish defence minister Hulusi Akar said all objectives had been achieved in the attack (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys)

Turkey has launched a new ground and air cross-border offensive against Kurdish militants in northern Iraq, that has left at least 19 suspected Kurdish rebels dead and has wounded at least four Turkish soldiers, Turkey’s defence minister has said.

Turkish jets and artillery struck suspected targets of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, and commando troops, supported by helicopters and drones, then crossed into the region by land or were airlifted by helicopters, the defence minister, Hulusi Akar, said in a video posted on the ministry’s website.