Turkey launches second wave of operations against PKK in Iraq

Turkey's defence ministry says it has launched a new military operation against Kurdish militants in northern Iraq.

The ministry, in a statement Saturday, announced the start of "Operation Claw-2" to destroy caves and shelters used by members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, in the Hakurk region. It said the operation began late on Friday with commandoes, air strikes and artillery.

"This is a follow-up on the successfully ongoing Claw-1 operation in Hakurk area which revealed new information on terrorist activity," the defence ministry statement said.

"Operation continues as planned with the support of Air Force planes, ground fire support vehicles, ATAK helicopters and UAVs," the statement added.

The PKK began an insurgency against Turkey in the mainly Kurdish southeast in 1984 and the conflict has killed tens of thousands of people. Turkey, the United States and the European Union consider the group, based in the Qandil mountains of northern Iraq, a terror organisation.

Turkey's first "Claw" operation began in May.