SULAIMANIYA, Iraq, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Turkish strikes in northern Iraq killed four rebels from the PJAK, a Kurdish group fighting for independence from Iran, a media official from the group said on Saturday.

The rebels were killed by strikes which took place on Friday around noon, the official said. Turkish authorities have said they believed they killed four PKK Kurdish guerrillas in northern Iraq's Qandil mountains, after intercepting what they described as PKK communications about the deaths.

The PJAK, which is fighting Iran, and the PKK, which is fighting Turkey, are allied Kurdish rebel groups which both operate from bases in northern Iraq.

Turkey has launched a series of strikes against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq this week and there have been clashes in southeastern Turkey.

The United States and European Union consider the Kurdish rebels to be terrorists and support Turkey's right to fight them. But Washington also fears that an escalation of violence at the border could destabilise Iraq. (Editing by Charles Dick)

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