A Turkish military helicopter returns from northern Iraq in Cukurca at the Turkey-Iraq border (File)

Turkey's military says its warplanes have bombed more than 20 suspected Kurdish rebel targets inside the country and across the border in northern Iraq.

A statement released by the military in Ankara says the attacks occurred Tuesday in two mountain regions in southeastern Turkey, along with the Avasin Baysan region in northern Iraq.

This is the fourth air raid on suspected Kurdish rebel bases in the area since 17 Turkish soldiers were killed when militants raided a military outpost near the border last week.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan indicated today more Turkish cross-border attacks could be carried out.  He was speaking one day before parliament is to vote on whether to extend the government's mandate to carry out cross-border operations.

Turkey has been battling rebels with the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, since 1984, when the group launched an armed campaign for an ethnic homeland in southeast Turkey.  Many PKK rebels are believed to be hiding in northern Iraq. 

The PKK is classified as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

 
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.