So far, about 60,000 Turkish troops have amassed along the Iraqi border.
Turkey said the PKK had 3,500 fighters in the Kandil mountains and
operated at least four forward bases in northern Iraq, Middle East Newsline reported.
Officials said the Turkish operations in northern Iraq were termed "hot
pursuit," a right Ankara has claimed in its war against the PKK. In late
September, however, Turkey failed to obtain Iraq's formal agreement to
coordinate hot pursuit operations.
"The central government in Iraq and the regional government in northern
Iraq must erect a thick wall between themselves and the terrorist
organization," Prime Minister Recep Erdogan, referring to the PKK, said on
Tuesday. "Those unable to distance themselves from terrorism cannot avoid
being adversely affected by the struggle against terrorism."
The Erdogan government has sought formal parliamentary approval for a
major military incursion of northern Iraq in an effort to eradicate PKK
bases in the Kandil mountains. The resolution was expected to be approved on
Wednesday.
"We hope that there will be no reason to use the authorization," Turkish
Deputy Prime Minister Cemil said.
Turkey has also threatened retaliation against the United States in wake
of a House resolution that deemed Ankara responsible for the genocide of 1.5
million Armenians in 1915. Officials said Turkish measures could include a
shutdown of the Incirlik air force base, which contains a U.S. Air Force
presence.
The union that represents 1,000 Turkish workers in Incirlik said it
would not oppose the shutdown of the base. The U.S. military has been
expanding and refurbishing Incirlik to accommodate additional aircraft.
"We consider the issue from the point of national interest, rather from
the economic aspect," Enis Sonmez, the union representative at Incirlik,
said.
