BAGHDAD, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) in Iraq's semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan said Sunday that 32 Kurdish militants were killed in airstrikes in northern Iraq and Syria.
A statement by the CTS said that more than 25 airstrikes were conducted by the Turkish forces on positions of the Turkish Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in many areas in northern Syria and mountainous areas in northern Iraq.
The airstrikes resulted in the killing of at least 32 militants and the wounding of many others in the two countries, the CTS statement said.
Earlier, the Turkish Defense Ministry said in a statement that its aircraft conducted an air operation against the YPG groups in northern Syria and the outlawed PKK in northern Iraq.
The Turkish operation came after the deadly attack in Istanbul on Nov. 13 that killed at least six and left 81 injured.
The Turkish forces frequently carry out ground operations, airstrikes, and artillery bombardment in northern Iraq, especially the Qandil Mountains, the main base of the PKK.
Ankara sees the YPG as the Syrian branch of the PKK.
The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union, has rebelled against the Turkish government for over three decades, claiming more than 40,000 lives. ■
