Turkish warplanes bomb PKK positions in Turkey and northern Iraq

The jets struck 21 targets belonging to the PKK in the Avasin-Basyan region in northern Iraq as well as the Buzul and Iki Yaka mountains in Turkey’s southeast, it said. Â

The bombing took place Tuesday morning, the statement said. "The planes returned safely to base after successfully completing their mission," the statement added, without further details.

The Turkish military had intensified its operations against PKK terrorists after 17 soldiers were killed in an attack on a military outpost. It launched several air operations and continuous artillery shelling was reported both within Turkey and northern Iraq.

Turkey's Parliament is scheduled to vote Wednesday on whether to extend by a year the military’s authority to carry out operations in northern Iraq. The current mandate expires Oct. 17.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist group by much of the international community including the United States and the EU.Â