Turkish jets destroyed at least 18 targets belonging to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants in northern Iraq.

According to reports citing the Turkish military, the strikes, carried out on Saturday and Sunday, targeted the Hakurk, Zap, Metina, Gara and Avasin-Basyan regions of northern Iraq.

The militants have been fighting a decades-long war against Ankara in quest for an independent state in southeastern Turkey, in which around 40,000 people have been killed.

Turkey regularly carries out airstrikes against PKK targets in northern Iraq, where the group is based in the Qandil mountains.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey as well as the U.S. and the EU. 

Turkey has also been waging a separate military operation against Kurdish militants known as People's Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria.

Ankara says the YPG is affiliated with the PKK.