Breaking Point: Kurds Kill 13 Turkish Soldiers
As reported yesterday, behind the scenes negotiations had led to the Turks agreeing not to invade Iraq yet, giving the U.S. a chance to bring a halt to PKK attacks. However, given this latest development, all bets are off.
ANKARA, Turkey - Separatist Kurdish rebels attacked a military unit near Turkey’s border with Iraq and Iran on Sunday, killing 13 Turkish soldiers, the state-run Anatolia news agency reported.
The pro-Kurdish Firat news agency, based in Belgium, later said rebels also took several Turkish soldiers hostage.
The attack came four days after Turkey’s Parliament passed a motion allowing its military to launch an offensive into neighboring northern Iraq to stamp out the rebels of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, hiding there. Turkish leaders have said the motion did not mean that Turkey would immediately order a cross-border offensive
But Sunday’s death toll raises the number of soldiers killed in PKK attacks in the past two weeks to around 30. And although it was not immediately clear exactly where the rebels in the latest attack were based, the clash is likely to increase calls for the military to stage an incursion into Iraq.
The U.S. and Iraq oppose any unilateral action by Turkey, fearing it could destabilize northern Iraq, the most stable part of the country.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was cutting short a visit to Istanbul to return to the capital, Ankara, CNN-Turk television reported. He urged calm following the attacks and said Turkey’s leaders would hold an emergency anti-terrorism meeting later in the day.
Labor Minister Faruk Celik said “These latest developments, I believe, will make us implement sharper measures.”
The rebels attacked the military unit, based near the Turkish town of Yuksekova, in Hakkari province, with heavy machinery, Anatolia said. Some 15 soldiers were also injured, it said.
NTV television said the fighting occurred some three miles from the border with Iraq.
Turkey has been pressing the United States and the Iraqi government to crack down on the rebels who have found safe havens in the remote, mountainous areas of northern Iraq. On Saturday, Erdogan said Turkey expected the United States to take action against the PKK but would take its own measures if it saw no results in the fight.
The U.S. lists the PKK as a terrorist organization and has repeatedly condemned its attacks in Turkey. However, Washington has called on the Turkish government to work with the Iraqis.
Rebels have been fighting for autonomy for Turkey’s predominantly Kurdish southeast. More than 30,000 people have died in the conflict that began in 1984.
Turkish leaders have repeatedly said a cross-border military operation would target only the PKK camps in northern Iraq.
(AP)
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seems that PKK wants the clash and don’t care for the Kurdish “state”
October 21st, 2007 at 3:58 amPKK wants to take up where the Democrats left off and push it over the edge. Double team with Murtha-Pelosi, They get the pot boiling with their insults, the PKK will try and make it boil over. Such helpful critters those Democrats, but don’t anyone criticize their patriotism.
October 21st, 2007 at 5:52 amWell everyone knows the PKK deserve whatever they get, this has been going on for a while now and the Turks have been more patient than we ever would be. I just hope the Turks dont invade Northern Iraq because Im sure US commanders wont take that too lightly.
October 21st, 2007 at 7:25 am