THE US backed Turkish air raids on Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq overnight with intelligence and clearance to enter Iraqi airspace, Turkey’s army chief said.

“The United States gave intelligence,” General Yasar Buyukanit was quoted by the Anatolia news agency as telling the private television channel Kanal D.

“But what is more important is that the United States last night opened northern Iraqi airspace to us. By doing that, the United States approved the operation,” Gen Buyukanit said.

The general’s staff announced earlier that Turkish warplanes had carried out air strikes overnight against positions of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants in the Kurdish-run north of Iraq.

Artillery pounded the targets after the air raids, they said.

“The PKK should watch its step. It should not forget that, for us, its camps and movement in northern Iraq are like a Big Brother show,” the general said, referring to the popular reality TV show.

He said winter conditions in mountainous northern Iraq would provide no refuge for the rebels who have been waging a 23-year campaign for self-rule in Turkey’s southeast.

“The Turkish Armed Forces have given the message to the Turkish public and the world that whether it is winter or summer, we will find and hit them (PKK rebels) even if they live in caves,” Gen Buyukanit said.

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