A bombing in eastern Turkey left at least 12 policemen dead after Turkish Jets carried out air strikes overnight against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq, state media reports said Tuesday.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack, but it's believed that Kurdish rebels were responsible, reported the Middle East North Africa Financial Network. The bombing occurred in the eastern province of Igdir as a police vehicle escorting a group of customs officials to a border gate was passing by, leaving at least 12 dead and an unknown amount injured.
The attack on the officers comes amid a sharp spike of violence between Turkey's security forces and the Turkish rebels, formally known as the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Sixteen soldiers were killed in a similar attack by the PKK on Sunday, according to the Associated Press.
As such, it's believed the bombing was a direct response to the air strikes that were done overnight, reported The Indian Express. It's believed up to 40 rebels died in the attack.
More than 200 people have died in the renewed fighting between the PKK and the security forces since July, including close to 100 soldiers and police officers.
The PKK has been fighting for autonomy in southeastern Turkey since 1984 and is considered a terrorist group by Turkey and its allies.
