Turkish forces have crossed into Iraq to launch an operation against Kurdish rebels said to be sheltering there, the Turkish military says.
Turkish forces have crossed into Iraq to launch an operation against Kurdish rebels said to be sheltering there, the Turkish military says.
The Turkish army, which has thousands of soldiers on the border, said troops had entered the north on Thursday evening and were pursuing rebels.
The Turkish army, which has thousands of soldiers on the border, said troops had entered the north on Thursday evening and were pursuing rebels.
It promised the force would "return home in the shortest time possible after its goals have been achieved".
It promised the force would "return home in the shortest time possible after its goals have been achieved".
The operation began after an aerial bombing campaign, the military added.
An air and artillery campaign preceded the land operation, the military added.
An unconfirmed report by Turkish TV channel NTV says 10,000 soldiers have crossed the border, Reuters news agency reports.
Suspected camps of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants were targeted between 1000 (0800 GMT) and 1800 (1600 GMT) on Thursday, according to a statement on the general staff website.
"Following this successful offensive, a cross-border ground operation backed by the Air Force was launched at 1900 [1700 GMT]," said the statement.
Turkey has carried out at least one, smaller ground incursion, as well as frequent air and artillery strikes, against suspected PKK targets in Iraq since parliament authorised the army to act in October 2007.
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