Turkish warplanes have bombed Kurdish rebel hideouts in northern Iraq.

The Turkish military said Thursday that it targeted 13 facilities belonging to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the Zap region, near the Turkish border. The military says it is still trying to determine if any rebels were killed.

Turkey has stepped up military operations this year against PKK rebels, both inside Turkey and in northern Iraq.

Earlier this week, the PKK released three German tourists seized during an expedition to Turkey's Mount Ararat July 8.

Turkish military officials say a total of 33 PKK fighters were killed during a five-day offensive that ended last week.

The PKK has been fighting for Kurdish autonomy in southeastern Turkey for nearly 25 years. The violence has killed more than 30,000 people.

The European Union, the United States, Turkey and other countries classify the PKK as a terrorist organization.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.