Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) separatists use the mountains of northern Iraq as sanctuary from which to launch attacks in south-east Turkey. The raids, the first by Turkey in the area since July 2010, responded to a surge in rebel action in recent months and an August 17 ambush that killed nine servicemen.

At least 12 warplanes took off from an air base in Diyarbakir, southeastern Turkey, on August 18 around 1830 GMT, a Reuters witness said, but it was not immediately clear where they were headed. Turkish military officials were not immediately available for comment on the warplanes' destination.

Earlier, the Turkish General Staff said artillery hit 168 targets in the region overnight before warplanes pounded 60 positions in two waves. Camps housing the PKK's commanders were among those targeted, security sources said.

Reuters