Turkish jets kill 4 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq

Four PKK terrorists were killed in an air operation in northern Iraq Thursday, according to the Turkish military.

In a statement, the Turkish General Staff said the air operation was carried out in northern Iraq's Zap and Avasin-Basyan region as part of Turkey's ongoing counter-terrorism operations.

The airstrikes came after movement of terrorists was detected towards the border region, the statement said.

All aircraft involved in operation returned safely to Turkey, it added.

Airstrikes on PKK targets in southeast Turkey and northern Iraq, where the terror group has its main base in the Qandil region near the Iranian border, have been carried out regularly since July 2015, when the PKK resumed its armed campaign.

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the EU and U.S. -- has killed more than 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians since taking up arms again.