Turkish soldiers conducting military drills near the Habur crossing gate between Turkey and Iraq (AFP)

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar stated, on Monday, that the first phase of Turkey's military operation in northern Iraq has been completed.

Ankara announced last week the start of a new military offensive in northern Iraq, employing Special Forces and military aviation allegedly against the PKK. In response, the Iraqi presidential office stated that the operation of Turkish armed forces poses a threat to Iraq's national security.

"The operation ... launched in northern Iraq is based on a long stage of preparation, based on planning, based on a process of coordination with the necessary institutions, organizations, and forces ... therefore, only our first phase has been completed," Akar added.

The operation will continue until the threat on the border with Iraq has been eliminated, the Minister said.

No warships from non-regional countries in Black Sea

On its account, the Turkish Defense Ministry said in a statement that "National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar visited zero point in the north of the Iraqi border, then visited shop owners in [the Turkish town of] Sirnak and met with citizens. Chief of the General Staff [of the Turkish armed forces] General Yasar Guler and Commander of the land forces were also present."

Elsewhere in his remarks, Akar added that Turkey is attempting to keep its NATO allies out of the Black Sea, and there are currently no warships from outside the region.

Commenting on whether there are warships of non-coastal countries in the Black Sea at the moment, Akar said, "No, no."

"Let's not give rise to misunderstandings or actions that could be perceived as a provocation. We are saying that whatever intentions you may have, the other side will see it as a provocation," the Turkish Defense Minister added.

It is worth mentioning that the PKK is a Kurdish militant political organization and armed guerrilla movement that has been fighting Ankara since 1984 in a war that has claimed more than 40,000 lives. Turkey has conducted numerous military operations against the PKK, which is based in northern Iraq.

The PKK and Turkey signed a ceasefire agreement in 2013, but it collapsed just two years later over several terrorist attacks which Ankara blamed on the PKK.

The Turkish armed forces have been seeking to destroy PKK military bases located in the northern part of Iraq, completely disregarding the sovereignty of the latter.