Turkey‘s parliament has approved a government request to allow troops to cross into northern Iraq to take military action against Kurdish fighters based there.

The vote provides a legal basis for operations against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) which Ankara says is using the region as a base for attacks on Turkey.

Turkey says the separatist PKK enjoys free movement in northern Iraq.

Furthermore, it is believed the party obtains weapons and explosives there for attacks across the border.

Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, has backed Turkey in its tough stance against the PKK.