SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Clashes erupted between Turkish troops and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the Kurdistan Region’s sub-district of Kani Mase on Sunday, said a local official.
Director of Kani Mase sub-district Sarbast Sabri told Esta Media Network that a “big fight” broke out between the Turkish troops and the PKK fighters in the villages of Chalke and Kesta at 2100 (local time).
“Clashes lasted for nearly 30 minutes, igniting fire to the forests of Kesta and Chalke,” said Sabri.
Casualties remained unclear.
Turkey launched a new ground and air defensive against the PKK in Duhok province on April 23.
Since then, at least five villages have been evacuated in Kani Mase sub-district.
Turkey has taken its decades-old conflict with the PKK deep into the Kurdistan Region, establishing military bases and deploying armed military drones against the fighters in their mountain strongholds.
Most of the operations have focused on territory up to 30 km (20 miles) from the border.
