Turkey's air force

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has indicated that the cross-border Operation Claw-Lock that started on April 18 against the PKK targets in northern Iraq became a harsh blow to the terrorist organization.

"There are signs of downfall in terrorist organizations. There is fear and panic in terrorists," Akar said, speaking in the southeastern province of Şanlıurfa on May 2.

Turkey's air force has pulled out of a military exercise scheduled to be held in Greece next month, security sources said on April 30 saying that preparatory documents singled out Ankara.

The military exercise dubbed "Tiger Meet" is intended to promote solidarity between the participating states' fleets and is held annually.

Skepticism over the sale of F-35 stealth fighter jets to Turkey - a development which will upset the balance of power in the Aegean Sea - is growing among Washington officials.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) is "completely besieged" in its last major stronghold in Syria's Aleppo province, a war monitor said on Feb. 6, after pro-regime forces cut a road on the south of the town, while the rest of it surrounded by Ankara-backed rebel forces.

The General Staff said in a statement on March 20 that at least 28 militants of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) were killed in southeastern Turkey on March 19 in a new wave of anti-terror operations, while three soldiers were killed by the PKK. 

During the operations, security forces also detonated 39 improvised explosive devices.        

Turkey's air force carried out airstrikes on the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) bases in northern Iraq on two separate operations on March 18 and March 19, the military said.

In a statement on its website, the Turkish General Staff said 20 F-16 and F-4 jets bombed positions in the Sinat, Haftanin and Gara regions on March 18 night.        

NATO allies plan to send patrol aircraft and missiles to strengthen Ankara's air defences on its border with Syria, officials said on Nov. 1, following Turkey's shooting-down of a Russian bomber.