U.S. drone initiated strike on Kurds

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ORATSU, Turkey, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- A U.S. Predator drone mistakenly targeted smugglers in southeastern Turkey, killing 35 Kurdish civilians, a report said.

The drone, was one of four based at Incirlik Airbase in southern Turkey, launched the airstrike in December on the village of Ortasu, sources told Turkey's Aydinlik.

Turkish air force F-16 fighter jets arrived on scene about 16 to 18 minutes later and continued the attack on what the military thought were members of the of Kurdistan Workers' Party terrorist group, Iran's Press TV said.

Four drones were delivered to Turkey last year as a show of support by Washington in the fight against the terrorists. They are controlled by U.S. personnel in Nevada.

The Turkish fight against the terrorist group -- launched in 1984 -- has resulted in the deaths of more than 45,000 people, Press TV reported.