(KUNA) -- The Turkish army Friday launched a large-scale military operation against PKK elements in the southern regions of Turkey, along the borders of Iraq.Anatolia news agency said that the Turkish army was currently pursuing more than 200 rebels in the Tongele province, south-east of the Turkish territories that is used by the PKK as a springboard for military operations against the Turkish military.
The agency said that Turkish commando forces were involved in this operation which came hours after statements made by the commander of land forces Ilker Basbug in which he said that Turkey was about to carry out cross-border operation against Kurdish rebels, who use northern Iraq as a base for attacks against Turkish troops.
General Basbug had earlier said while commenting on a possible Turkish military intervention that, "the decision is up to those responsible for decision-making." The General seconded that the Turkish armed forces have entered the implementation phase of the cross-border operation which he regarded as one of the measures aimed to combat the PKK rebels.
Basbug also lashed out at the Turkish media for exerting pressure on the military and political governance in the country.