Militants Struck by Turkish Armed Forces in Iraq Used American Weapons

Members of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), who were eliminated during operations by the Turkish Armed Forces in Northern Iraq, were found to be carrying American-made M4 assault rifles. This was reported by a Turkish newspaper.

According to the publication, the militants who attacked the Ministry of Interior in Ankara on October 1 were also armed with the same model of weapon.

Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler stated that the initiation of the operation was prompted by a recent attack on Turkish soldiers by Kurdish armed groups, which resulted in the deaths of 12 individuals. In response, there were massive strikes on the positions of the PKK in Northern Iraq.

Guler reported the defeat of PKK shelters, hideouts, oil facilities, and storage sites. As a result of the strikes, 56 members of the Kurdish armed formations were also neutralized.

Earlier, the U.S. State Department urged Turkey to coordinate its operations against the PKK with Iraq to avoid violating the latter's sovereignty.