Eurasia Press & News
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday that preparations were underway for a parliamentary authorization for a cross-border military operation to hunt PKK terrorists who operate from bases in the northern Iraq.
The move comes after a high level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Erdogan.
“Institutions concerned have been given the necessary orders and instructions to make all kinds of legal, economic and political preparations to end the presence of the terror organization in a neighboring country in the upcoming period, including a cross-border operation,” said a statement released after Monday’s meeting.
As the legal work was udnerway to allow a military incursion Turkish troops pounded suspected PKK camps in northern Iraq with artillery fire, local sources in the border region reported.
The measure is unlikely to reach Parliament before the end of a four-day religious holiday on Sunday, an official of Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party said.
Such a large-scale military incursion could open a new front in Iraq. It would also disrupt one of the few relatively peaceful areas of Iraq and would jeopardize Turkey’s ties with the United States, which has urged Ankara not to take unilateral steps.
On Turkey’s side of the border, the military this week launched a major offensive backed by airpower against the rebels in Sirnak province, close to the Iraqi border.
Responding to more than a week of deadly attacks in southeastern Turkey by the PKK, Turkish troops are targeting the militants’ suspected escape routes in mountainous areas.
Turkish troops had “squeezed” a group of about 80 rebels on Mt. Gabar, in Sirnak sources close to the governor’s office reported. Escape routes were being bombed by helicopter gunships while transport helicopters were airlifting special commando units to strategic points.
Turkish troops were also shelling suspected PKK camps in the regions of Kanimasa, Nazdur and Sinath, in northern Iraq, from positions in Turkey’s Hakkari province, just across the border. Tanks were positioned near the town of Silopi, in Sirnak province a TNA local reporter said..
In the event that parliament gives its approval, the military could choose to immediately launch an operation or wait to see if the United States and its allies, jolted by the Turkish action, decide to crack down on the militants.
Turkey conducted two dozen large-scale incursions into Iraq between the late 1980s and 1997. The last such operation, in 1997, involved tens of thousands of troops and government-paid village guards.
Other punitive measure at Turkey’s disposal including cutting electricity supplies and closing the border with Iraq.
The New Anatolian / AnkaraÂ
The move comes after a high level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Erdogan.”Institutions concerned have been given the necessary orders and instructions to make all kinds of legal, economic and political preparations to end the presence of the terror organization in a neighboring country in the upcoming period, including a cross-border operation,” said a statement released after Monday’s meeting. As the legal work was udnerway to allow a military incursion Turkish troops pounded suspected PKK camps in northern with artillery fire, local sources in the border region reported.The measure is unlikely to reach Parliament before the end of a four-day religious holiday on Sunday, an official of Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party said.Such a large-scale military incursion could open a new front in . It would also disrupt one of the few relatively peaceful areas of and would jeopardize ‘s ties with the , which has urged not to take unilateral steps.On ‘s side of the border, the military this week launched a major offensive backed by airpower against the rebels in Sirnak province, close to the Iraqi border.Responding to more than a week of deadly attacks in southeastern by the PKK, Turkish troops are targeting the militants’ suspected escape routes in mountainous areas.Turkish troops had “squeezed” a group of about 80 rebels on , in Sirnak sources close to the governor’s office reported. Escape routes were being bombed by helicopter gunships while transport helicopters were airlifting special commando units to strategic points.Turkish troops were also shelling suspected PKK camps in the regions of Kanimasa, Nazdur and Sinath, in northern , from positions in ‘s Hakkari province, just across the border. Tanks were positioned near the town of , in Sirnak province a TNA local reporter said..In the event that parliament gives its approval, the military could choose to immediately launch an operation or wait to see if the United States and its allies, jolted by the Turkish action, decide to crack down on the militants. conducted two dozen large-scale incursions into between the late 1980s and 1997. The last such operation, in 1997, involved tens of thousands of troops and government-paid village guards.Other punitive measure at ‘s disposal including cutting electricity supplies and closing the border with .The New Anatolian /