Turkish warplanes have bombed Kurdish rebels across the border in northern Iraq, according to Kurdish officials.

Jabbar Yawer, a spokesman for the Iraqi Kurdish security forces, said the air strikes lasted more than three hours and caused material damage.

Turkey launched two more air attacks on northern Iraq in the last week, as well as a small ground incursion.

Turkey blames rebels from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) of launching attacks on Turkey from bases in Iraq.

Mr Yawer, of the Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga security force, told Turkish television channel NTV that three jets took part in the raid in the Rawanduz area.

There was no immediate confirmation from the Turkish military.

Ankara approved cross-border raids on PKK bases in October, saying the Iraqi government and its US backers were not doing enough to halt attacks.

The PKK - which is designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the EU - is thought to have about 3,000 rebels based in Iraq.

PHOTO CAPTION

Turkish air force jets (file photo)