Turkish jets launched air raids on suspected bases belonging to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, in northern Iraq on Wednesday, August 17.

The raids came hours after eight soldiers and a village guard were killed in an ambush by PKK members.

Some 15 warplanes took off to strike at bases which the PKK use as a springboard to attack targets inside Turkey. CNNTürk television said Turkish F-16s were involved in the raids.

Pro-PKK Firat news agency said the Turkish jets were also targeting Qandil, a mountain on the Iraqi-Iranian border, where the PKK leaders are believed to be hiding.

The reports were based on unidentified sources and there was no immediate official confirmation of the strikes.

Turkish officials warned of a major offensive against the PKK following the ambush on a military convoy near the border with Iraq, that killed eight soldiers and a village guard working with them.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Turkey is at the end of its tether and hinted toward a strong offensive after the end of the holy month of Ramadan. But Wednesday's attack appears to have forced Turkey to bring plans forward, Hurriyet Daily News reported.