ANKARA - Turkey’s General Staff has confirmed reports in the media that planes from the Turkish Air Force had struck at targets inside northern Iraq Thursday night.

In a statement released on Friday, the General Staff said that aircraft had hit bases and other targets of the terrorist group the PKK in the Qandil Mountain region late on Thursday night.

“Having completed their mission, fighter jets regained their bases safely,” the statement said. “The airborne operation targeted just PKK/KONGRA- GEL and utmost attention has been paid in order not to hit civilian targets.”

Earlier on Friday there had been media reports that as many as 30 Turkish aircraft struck at targets deep inside northern Iraq late Thursday night, with Iraqi officials confirming the media reports.

Turkey bombs PKK in N. Iraq, Iraqi Kurds say

Baghdad clashes break ceasefire

Dozens dead as Iraq cities bombed

De Mistura to initiate proposal on Iraq

Sadr says US will always be enemy

Iraqi president Talabani pays a landmark visit to Turkey on Friday

69 dead in Baghdad's 'heinous crime'