The latest deaths bring the killed rebels and soldiers to 112 and 15 since Turkey launched a ground incursion into Iraq late Thursday.
Early Friday, the General Staff announced that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) launched a cross-border ground operation into the north of Iraq as of 7 P.M. (1700 GMT) on Thursday following an artillery bombardment.
Turkish armed helicopters take part in the cross-border operation in Iraq on February 22, 2008. (Xinhua/Anadoglu Agency Photo)
The ground operation is backed by Turkish Air Forces jets, the General Staff said, adding that TSK would return to Turkey after it achieves the planned targets.
The Turkish military has launched several cross-border attacks to fight separatist PKK rebels, who use northern Iraq as a launch pad for attacks against Turkey.
