World Tribune.com
NextCard Visa

Turkey ends week-long incursion in N. Iraq

Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Wednesday, September 5, 2001

ANKARA Ñ Turkey has completed its military incursion in northern Iraq.

Turkish military sources said thousands of troops returned to their bases in Turkey after nearly a week of operations. The mission targeted Kurdish insurgents in northern Iraq harbored by the regime of President Saddam Hussein.

The mission included air and ground attacks on suspected Kurdish Workers Party installations near Hakari. The sources said PKK agents were being provided military and logistical support from the Saddam regime to operate against Kurds in northern Iraq loyal to Ankara.

Kurdish sources had warned for months of an increasing presence of Saddam's agents and Kurdish collaborators in the north. The sources said Saddam has placed car bombs and imposed a reign of terror in parts of the autonomous Kurdish area.

In the Turkish offensive, at least 15 PKK insurgents were killed, the sources said. No Turkish casualties were reported.

Kurdish unrest was also reported throughout Turkey. The unrest was said to have been sparked by a call by imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan for a new battle against Ankara.

"I'm calling on the parties, both the state and PKK to establish a means of dialogue, and for our people to stand up for peace and democracy," Ocalan said in a message. "If the hand for peace is emptied, 2002 will be the year of war."

Print this Article Print this Article Email this article Email this article Subscribe to this Feature Free Headline Alerts