SpaceWar.com - Your World At War
Turkey deploys troops against Kurdish rebels in Iraq
Ankara, June 17 (AFP) Jun 17, 2020
Turkey launched an air and ground offensive against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq on Wednesday, in a move likely to increase friction with the Baghdad government.

The defence ministry said "commandos" moved in supported by drones and helicopters, following a bombardment with rocket launchers and artillery guns that hit more than 150 targets.

It added that the operation, dubbed "Claw-Tiger", came after a "recent upsurge in attacks on our police stations and military bases" near the Iraqi border.

Turkey carried out air strikes earlier this week that drew an angry response from Iraq, which labelled them "a violation of sovereignty".

The Turkish military regularly carries out operations against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in southeast Turkey and its rear bases across the border.

The operation on Sunday night was dubbed "Claw-Eagle" with raids in the northern Iraqi territories of Kandil, Sinjar and Hakurk.


- 'Natural right' -


President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party spokesman defended Turkey's actions.

"Turkey continues its effective fight against terror using its rights based on international law," Omer Celik said on Twitter.

"It is our most natural right and duty to fight against terrorists who attack our borders, citizens and security forces."

The PKK, which has fought an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984, is banned as a terrorist group by Ankara and its Western allies.

Tens of thousands have been killed during the violence, which resumed after a two-year ceasefire collapsed in 2015.

PKK bases are not explicitly authorised but are tolerated by an autonomous Kurdish administration in northern Iraq.

Iraq summoned Turkey's Baghdad envoy Fatih Yildiz over the raids on Sunday night.

The ambassador tweeted he had informed Iraqi officials that Turkey would "fight the PKK wherever it is" if Iraq did not "take any steps" to remove the PKK's presence.


ADVERTISEMENT




Space News from SpaceDaily.com
Axiom private mission to ISS delayed because of weather
Trump-Musk showdown threatens US space plans
Japanese company aborts Moon mission after assumed crash-landing

24/7 Energy News Coverage
Leaders warn race for minerals could turn seabed into 'wild west'
China carefully assembling a deep-sea mining strategy
China, South Korea must safeguard free trade, Xi tells Lee

Military Space News, Nuclear Weapons, Missile Defense
Iran says has intel to strike Israel in response to 'any' attack on nuclear sites
Iran says to submit own nuclear proposal to US soon
NATO learns as Ukraine's 'creativity' changes battlefield

24/7 News Coverage
World leaders urged to step up for overexploited oceans
Farmed production of some fish - and seaweed - is soaring
What is the high seas treaty?



All rights reserved. Copyright Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.