Turkey sends 10,000 troops into northern Iraq to counter PKK
Friday, 22 Feb 2008 12:26
Turkey has sent 10,000 ground troops into northern Iraq
Turkey has sent 10,000 ground troops into northern Iraq as part of an offensive against Kurdish Workers' party (PKK) fighters based in the region.
According to the Turkish military the operation began on Thursday evening after an aerial attack and artillery bombardment.
"After a successful bombing, a cross-border ground incursion backed by the air force started at 19:00 (17:00 GMT) on Thursday," a statement on the military's website said.
The US responded by claiming that the new land incursion by the Turkish was "not the greatest news".
"A land operation is a whole new level," claimed Mathew Bryza, deputy assistant secretary of state.
However, a spokesman for the US military in Iraq also told CNN that they were aware of the incursion and Turkey had given assurances that it would try and avoid "damage to innocent civilians or Kurdish infrastructure".
The US has regularly backed Turkey's battle with the PKK, whom both countries regard as a terrorist group.
"The US continues to support Turkey's right to defend itself from the terrorist activities of the PKK and has encouraged Turkey to use all available mean, to include diplomacy and close coordination with the government of Iraq to ultimately resolve this issue," Rear Admiral Gregory Smith said.
Turkey's army general said in a statement that: "The Turkish armed forces, which attach great importance to Iraq's territorial integrity and stability, will return home in the shortest time possible after its goal have been achieved."
Over 30,000 people have been killed since the PKK began fighting for Kurdish self-rule in southern Turkey in 1984.