Hundreds flee homes as Turkish forces battle Kurdish fighters

[maddezmom]

Source: Reuters

SULAIMANIYAH, 21 June 2007 (IRIN) - Hundreds of Iraqi Kurds have been forced to flee their homes after up to 30,000 Turkish soldiers massed on the Iraqi-Turkish border and launched attacks against Kurdish fighters, Iraqi border police say.

Local aid agencies said Kurdish fighters had prevented them from entering the villages, which were being targeted.

"The bombardments have forced hundreds to abandon their homes and leave for safer areas. Some houses were looted by Kurdish fighters, according to witnesses in the area," said Rastgo Muhammad Barsaz, spokesman for the non-governmental organisation Kurdistan Campaign to Help Victims of War.

"Dashati Takhe village, on the border near Zakho, is one of the most affected areas. We have been informed of civilian causalities but we don't know how many, as we are being denied access to the area. But by telephone, civilians have told us they are short of food and water," Barsaz said.

Fear of Turkish invasion

In response to recent attacks, including a bombing in Ankara in May that killed eight people, Turkey expanded its force along the border, deploying additional artillery and dozens of tanks. Iraqi border police say Turkey has 20,000-30,000 soldiers along its border with Iraq, and has set up a special security zone that restricts movement in the area.

Read more: http://wap.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/04ed94347b14aaabab5da4207567e7d9.htm

[Barrett808]

1. Hundreds flee homes as Turkish forces battle Kurdish fighters

Source: IRIN

SULAIMANIYAH, 21 June 2007 (IRIN) - Hundreds of Iraqi Kurds have been forced to flee their homes after up to 30,000 Turkish soldiers massed on the Iraqi-Turkish border and launched attacks against Kurdish fighters, Iraqi border police say.

Local aid agencies said Kurdish fighters had prevented them from entering the villages, which were being targeted.

"The bombardments have forced hundreds to abandon their homes and leave for safer areas. Some houses were looted by Kurdish fighters, according to witnesses in the area," said Rastgo Muhammad Barsaz, spokesman for the non-governmental organisation Kurdistan Campaign to Help Victims of War.

"Dashati Takhe village, on the border near Zakho, is one of the most affected areas. We have been informed of civilian causalities but we don't know how many, as we are being denied access to the area. But by telephone, civilians have told us they are short of food and water," Barsaz said.

Read more: http://wap.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/04ed94347b14aaabab5da4207567e7d9.htm

[Strelnikov_]

2. Related Article

Appears Turkey is serious.

Erdoğan says Iraq cross-border operation on table

http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=114632&bolum=103

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan called on the United States and Iraq to deal with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) based in northern Iraq, but said Ankara would take military action itself if necessary.

The government is under mounting pressure from the public and army to tackle the PKK based in mountainous northern Iraq. Dozens of civilians and soldiers have been killed in recent weeks in attacks across Turkey. The influential National Security Council (MGK) reviewed yesterday measures against the PKK, including plans to set up a buffer zone in Iraqi territory.

. . .

Washington, while classing the PKK as a terrorist group, fears any major operation by its NATO ally in northern Iraq could anger Iraqi Kurdish allies and stoke wider conflict in a relatively peaceful region of that war-torn country. Financial markets were rattled earlier this month by reports of a major incursion into northern Iraq, which Turkey denied. Military sources said there had been a limited cross-border raid -- a relatively frequent occurrence since the mid-1990s. Any major cross-border operation would require parliament’s approval. Parliament, where Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has a big majority, is currently in recess ahead of July elections.


Looks like 'The Other Iraq' is about to go the way of the rest of Iraq.

[Cleita]

3. This could be the start of WWIII.

When other nations start getting involved in a localized war, it doesn't bode well.

[bemildred]

4. "Hey, Turkey, what you're doing is unwise." nt

[hogwyld]

5. You would think Turkey would have learned from us

Organized militaries have no answers for a determined insurgency. They're going to get bogged down along with us.

[acmavm]

6. It's taken some time but hey, it's not like no one predicted this happening.

Way to go george.