Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

November 22, 2008 3:24:50 CST

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

Turkey Menaces Kurds

Posted Jun 1, 07 6:00 CDT in World,  US 

(Newser) – Turkish troops and tanks amassing along the border with Iraq are ready to go after Kurdish separatist guerrillas as soon as they get the order, the country's top general said yesterday. The US, Iraq and the EU are all urging Turkey not to launch the offensive, which could destabilize Northern Iraq.

The military build-up, and ratcheting up of rhetoric, are a response to last week's  suicide bombing in Ankara. Turkey claims Iraqi Kurdistan is a safe haven from which separatist  militants PKK launch attacks. Fourteen PKK members have been killed near the border this week; Turkey says up to 3,800 are now based in Iraq.

Source Associated Press

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • Turkey Launches New Airstrike in Iraq

    Apr 16, 08 9:30 CDT
    Turkey's air force flew into northern Iraq this morning, firing on a group of Kurdish guerrillas who officials said were attempting to cross the border, Reuters reports. The strikes "neutralized" several members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, said Turkish military authorities. The Kurdish separatist group confirmed the Turkish attack but claimed there were no casualties. More »

  • Turkey Pulls Out of N. Iraq

    Feb 29, 08 8:57 CST
    Turkey Pulls Out of N. Iraq Turkey pulled its troops out of northern Iraq today, ending a controversial offensive that had Washington and Baghdad on edge, Reuters reports. In a statement, Turkey said it had made its point. “There was no question of completely liquidating” the PKK, the military said, “but Turkey has shown the organization that northern Iraq is not a safe haven for them.” More »

  • US Didn't Protest Turkish Incursion Into Iraq

    Feb 26, 08 10:26 CST
    US Didn't Protest Turkish Incursion Into Iraq As fierce fighting continues in northern Iraq, American officials have confirmed they were aware that Turkey planned to strike at Kurdish guerrillas inside the border—and didn't raise objections, the Wall Street Journal reports. The US did, however, urge Turkey to limit the length and scope of the incursion. "They understood why Turkey was doing this," said Turkey's ambassador to the US. More »

  • Turkey Bombs Rebels in Iraqi Mountains

    Feb 23, 08 3:28 PM CST
    Turkey Bombs Rebels in Iraqi Mountains Fighting continued in semiautonomous Kurdistan today as Turkey’s air and artillery forces let loose a hail of bombs in the mountains of northern Iraq, the AP reports. The strikes are ratcheting up tension between Turkey and the US-backed Iraqi government: Iraq’s foreign minister today told Turkey to get out “as soon as possible.” More »

  • 10,000 Turkish Troops Enter Iraq

    Feb 22, 08 5:57 CST
    10,000 Turkish Troops Enter Iraq Turkey has sent 10,000 troops over the border into northern Iraq to hunt down militants of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, marking the first major ground incursion into the country since 1997, reports Bloomberg. The Turkish military said that the action began last evening, and local television is reporting that the troops are up to 6 miles inside Iraqi territory. The ground assault "is not the greatest news," said a US State Department official. More »

Turkish protesters hold up their national flags.   (Getty Images)
Military vehicles are seen heading toward border with Iraq in the southeastern Turkish city of Sirnak, Wednesday, May 30, 2007.   (Associated Press)
Motorized guns stand at the train station in southeastern Turkish city of Diyarbakir.   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Threads (
1
 of 4)

Tags

Iraq • Middle East • Turkey • Kurds • Kurdistan • PKK • militant • guerrilla


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular

Loading...

Other Home Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser a team of editors and writers culls the most important stories from hundreds of U.S. and international sources and reduces them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. It's the Newser guarantee: we can take any report or column or video and pack what you need to know into 120 words or less. Newser's short-form aggregation, visual format, and unique information tools help you get more of the kind of news you want, in a quicker and more entertaining way. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »