The militants of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) have blown up the Kirkuk-Yumurtalik oil pipeline running through Turkey’s Sirnak province, Anadolu agency reported July 29 citing Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yildiz.
Following the pipeline explosion, oil transportation from Iraq to Turkey was suspended, according to the minister.
Earlier, PKK militants blew up a section of the main pipe of Iran-Turkey gas pipeline in Turkey’s Agri province.
Turkish air force started large-scale operations July 25 in Iraq’s north where the PKK camps as located.
Turkish Parliament adopted the so-called Syrian mandate in 2012. Under this mandate, Ankara is empowered to take any measures against terror and other threats against the country, repulse the threat that can come from terrorist groups in Iraq and Syria, protect the country’s interests before and after the crisis, as well as, in the case of necessity, to involve the army in the military operations in other countries (Syria and Iraq).
The mandate envisages the possibility of presence of foreign troops on the country’s territory and their use at the discretion of the Turkish government when needed.
