(al- Jazeera ) Tensions have been increasing along Turkey's border with Iraq ahead of an expected parliamentary vote seeking Turkish MPs' approval for a ground incursion against Kurdish fighters based in the region.
Ankara says the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) used bases across the border to launch attacks inside Turkey that saw 15 soldiers killed last week.
A bill which would allow an operation into Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq any time in the next year is reportedly to be submitted to parliament after a cabinet meeting on Monday.
Turkey reportedly shelled areas along the border on Sunday as the tens of thousands of troops gathered in the area.
"The shelling began on Saturday night around 10pm [1900 GMT], " an Iraqi officer told the AFP news agency, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"It carried on sporadically," he said, adding that the shells had struck empty areas without causing any casualties.
Residents of Dashta Takh near the Turkish border told Al Jazeera of a low intensity, but regular shelling campaign around their village.
"There is often shelling, sometimes we can't sleep at night," one resident said. " Whenever they want , they hit ."