Turks attack Iraq in 'hot pursuit' of Kurd rebels
Source: Agencies |
October 20, 2011, Thursday
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TURKISH soldiers, bombers and helicopter gunships launched an incursion into northern Iraq yesterday, hours after Kurdish rebels killed 24 soldiers and wounded 18 in attacks along the border.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo-gan canceled a visit to Kazakhstan and held a news conference to announce that Turkey had launched a "hot pursuit" operation, wording that officials often use to describe cross-border offensives in northern Iraq.
"We will never bow to any attack from inside or outside Turkey," he said.
Turkey's chief of the military and the interior and defense ministers traveled to the border area to oversee the attacks, and the US and NATO both issued statements supporting the offensive, the largest in more than three years.
Television reports said Turkish troops moved 4 kilometers into Iraq and helicopters were ferrying commandos across the border. Turkey last staged a major ground offensive against Iraq early in 2008.
Clashes in two areas
Yesterday's offensive began hours after rebels, who are fighting for autonomy in Turkey's southeast, attacked military outposts and police stations near the border towns of Cukurca and Yuksekova.
Kurdish rebel group the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, said fighting was taking place in two areas close to the mountainous Iraqi-Turkish border. Dostdar Hamo, a spokesman for the rebels, said: "We have been clashing with the Turkish forces in two areas since around 3am."
Turkey asked Iraq last week to move against rebel bases in northern Iraq, saying its "patience is running out" in the face of rebel attacks directed at Turkey from Iraq.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul said: "No one should forget that those who make us suffer this pain will be made to suffer even stronger."
A pro-Kurdish political party, which has been accused by authorities of links to the Kurdish rebel group, called on both the government and the rebels to end the fighting.
"Turkey's most urgent need is peace," the Peace and Democracy Party said. "We call on both the government and the PKK to halt the war."
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo-gan canceled a visit to Kazakhstan and held a news conference to announce that Turkey had launched a "hot pursuit" operation, wording that officials often use to describe cross-border offensives in northern Iraq.
"We will never bow to any attack from inside or outside Turkey," he said.
Turkey's chief of the military and the interior and defense ministers traveled to the border area to oversee the attacks, and the US and NATO both issued statements supporting the offensive, the largest in more than three years.
Television reports said Turkish troops moved 4 kilometers into Iraq and helicopters were ferrying commandos across the border. Turkey last staged a major ground offensive against Iraq early in 2008.
Clashes in two areas
Yesterday's offensive began hours after rebels, who are fighting for autonomy in Turkey's southeast, attacked military outposts and police stations near the border towns of Cukurca and Yuksekova.
Kurdish rebel group the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, said fighting was taking place in two areas close to the mountainous Iraqi-Turkish border. Dostdar Hamo, a spokesman for the rebels, said: "We have been clashing with the Turkish forces in two areas since around 3am."
Turkey asked Iraq last week to move against rebel bases in northern Iraq, saying its "patience is running out" in the face of rebel attacks directed at Turkey from Iraq.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul said: "No one should forget that those who make us suffer this pain will be made to suffer even stronger."
A pro-Kurdish political party, which has been accused by authorities of links to the Kurdish rebel group, called on both the government and the rebels to end the fighting.
"Turkey's most urgent need is peace," the Peace and Democracy Party said. "We call on both the government and the PKK to halt the war."
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