Turkey launched a new military operation into northern Iraq hours after Kurdish rebels intensified their activities killing 24 soldiers and wounding 18 in attacks along the border

Turkey launched a new military operation into northern Iraq on Wednesday as Kurdish rebels intensified their activities killing 24 soldiers and wounding 18 in attacks along the border.

Turkish soldiers, air force bombers and helicopter gunships reportedly took part in the offensive that started on Wednesday shortly after the Kurd militants attack overnight in the southeastern province of Hakkari.

Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan canceled a visit to Kazakhstan and held a nationally televised news conference to announce that Turkey had launched the "hot pursuit" operation, wording that officials often use to describe cross-border offensives in northern Iraq.

"We will never bow to any attack from inside or outside Turkey," he said.

 Turkey's chief of the military and the interior and defense ministers rushed to the border area to oversee the anti-rebel attacks, and the United States and NATO both issued statements supporting the offensive, the largest in more than three years.

NTV television said Turkish troops have gone some 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) into Iraq and that helicopters were ferrying commandos across the border. Dogan news agency said more than 20 Kurdish rebels were killed in ensuing clashes, but did not provide a breakdown. Neither report identified its sources.
The Interior Ministry first said 26 Turkish soldiers were killed and 22 wounded, but Erdogan corrected those figures to 24 dead and 18 wounded, without explaining the discrepancy. Dogan news agency said about 200 Kurdish rebels were believed to have launched Wednesday's attacks.