Explosion shuts down Turkey-Iran natural gas pipeline amid increasing violence

[unhappycamper]

http://www.dw.com/en/explosion-shuts-down-turkey-iran-natural-gas-pipeline-amid-increasing-violence/a-18611224

The gas flow between Iran and Turkey has been shut down after an explosion on a natural gas pipeline in the Turkish province of Agri. The country's energy minister has suggested that Kurdish rebels were to blame.

Explosion shuts down Turkey-Iran natural gas pipeline amid increasing violence
28.07.2015

The fire, which began Monday in Turkey's eastern Agri province was quickly brought under control, Turkey's energy minister Taner Yildiz said on Tuesday.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the explosion but Turkish media was quick to blame the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) which has been known to attack pipelines in incidents similar in the past, as part of its armed campaign for autonomy and greater rights for Kurds.

The suspected PKK attack on Monday came amid a sudden increase in violence in Turkey in recent days. On Friday, Ankara launched air raids on 'Islamic State' (IS) positions in Syria after an alleged IS suicide bomber killed 32 people close to the Turkish-Syrian border.

Criticism for raids against PKK

Turkey's Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) said on Monday, however, that Turkish fighter jets and ground forces have also hit PKK camps in northern Iraq and the Syrian Kurdish YPG in northern Syria - despite the organization's cooperating with the US to combat IS. Ankara has denied that the government was intentionally targeting Kurds.

[Ghost Dog]

1. It would appear that the Turkish Govt.

has intentionally targetted Kurds, perhaps in connivance with the US as a quid pro quo for cooperation in setting up a NATO safe-haven buffer and no-fly zone inside Syria starting along the Turkish border, which could look like the beginning of a land and air invasion of Syria from the North and possible wider regional war.

See also: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan calls off peace process with Kurds.

The US and Turkey are working together on plans to create an "IS-free zone" along the border with Syria. As well as targeting IS militants, the zone would also allow Turkey to hit positions held by the outlawed Kurdish PKK group.

[bemildred]

2. Tsk. Those pipelines are so hard to protect. nt