Though the US and Turkey are discussing the possibility of creating a safe zone in northern Syria, Washington's inconsistent policy decisions over the future of the contested region is pushing Ankara to pursue its own security goals.
Turkish military says its jets conducted air strikes in Gara and Hakurk regions of northern Iraq on Saturday and Sunday destroying shelters and caves belonging to the PKK terror group.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy says PKK terror group has for many years used northern Iraqi soil as launchpad to attack Turkey, leaving Ankara with no option other than military operation.
Turkish Defense Ministry said drones, refueling aircrafts and over 20 warplanes used in the overnight operation that was conducted was conducted to “neutralise” PKK/KCK/PYD/YPG and other terrorist elements.
The US attempt to focus on a single goal in Syria, namely Daesh, has served as fuel for other conflicts in the region and compromised Turkey's internal security.
Iraq celebrated the one-year anniversary of the official defeat of Daesh. The anniversary also saw the partial re-opening of the 'Green Zone' in Baghdad to civilians 15 years after it was set up in the wake of the US-led invasion and occupation.
"Turkey has gained historic results against terror groups, gangs and drug dealers, and any other action targeting peace in our term since 2002" - Turkish President Erdogan.
Two others were wounded in the attack in the country’s southeast where Turkey has been battling the PKK for over three decades.
Around 3.8 million voters were eligible to cast their ballots in the parliamentary elections in northern Kurdish region. The vote was initially scheduled for 2017 but postponed due to political and economic crises in the region.
The numbers of Christians in Iraq have plummeted and those who claim to help ensure their survival, often don't even understand what they need.
Gunmen opened fire and entered the regional government's headquarters in the northern Iraqi city early on Monday.
The war against Daesh ended in 2017, and roughly 70 Sunni Arab families displaced from northern Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region want to go home.
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