BAGHDAD , Iraq ( CNN ) -- Turkish troops fired artillery shells into northern Iraq on Wednesday nearly a week after Turkey completed its eight-day ground offensive targeting Kurdish militants , an Iraqi official told CNN . Turkish troops patrol near the border with Iraq during the February offensive . Jabbar Yawer , spokesman for Iraq 's Kurdish Regional Government security forces , said at least 16 rounds were fired on Dashti Barzji -- an uninhabited area in Iraq 's Irbil province located about 12 miles from Iraq 's border . Irbil is one of the three provinces compromising Iraq 's Kurdish region . The Turkish military in Ankara had no immediate comment about the report . Yawer said Turkish helicopters were seen in the area during the strike but said that the choppers were not involved in the attack . The border conflict has wider implications for the Middle East and Asia , with the United States concerned that prolonged cross-border fighting would serve to destabilize the region , where Kurdish separatists pose challenges to power in Iran and Syria , as well as Turkey » and Iraq » . The Turkish military for months has been conducting cross-border airstrikes and artillery fire in northern Iraq against members of the Kurdistan Workers ' Party , or PKK -- militants who have been launching attacks against Turkey from bases in northern Iraq . Turkish troops launched a ground offensive on the evening of Feb. 21 `` to prevent the region from being used as a safe haven by the terrorists and to contribute to the internal peace and stability of Iraq in the long run . '' It was the first significant Turkish ground offensive into Iraq since the 2003 overthrow of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein , and it ended after Iraqi and U.S. officials urged Turkey to make the foray as brief as possible . A total of 240 rebels , 24 troops , and three village guards were killed , the Turkish military said . The PKK has spent two decades fighting for autonomy for Kurds in southeastern Turkey , with some of its attacks launched from inside northern Iraq . Turks regard the PKK militants as terrorists and point to indiscriminate PKK attacks against civilians as well as police and military targets over the years . The United States and the European Union also label the PKK a terrorist organization . U.S. officials have shared intelligence with Turkey . The Iraqi government opposes the PKK presence , but it views the Turkish military incursion as a violation of its sovereignty . E-mail to a friend . CNN 's Mohammed Tawfeeq in Baghdad and Talia Kayali in Atlanta contributed to this report .
Turkish troops fire artillery shells into northern Iraq . At least 16 rounds land on uninhabited area in Iraq 's Irbil province . Latest action occurs a week after Turkey begins eight - month ground campaign .