By Lauren Mellinger
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
ISTANBUL, Turkey – On October 5, Turkey launched air strikes against Kurdish rebel bases in northern Iraq. The air strikes were in response to a PKK cross-border ambush on October 3, marking the deadliest PKK strike against the Turkish military this year.
On October 3, members of the PKK raided an army outpost in southeast Turkey along the Iraqi border. The ensuing fighting resulted in the death of 17 Turkish soldiers, with 20 wounded.
During the October 5 air strikes, launched in retaliation to the recent PKK attack, Turkish fighter jets fired artillery at two rebel groups in the Avasin Basyan region in northern Iraq. Later that day, Turkish planes fired on PKK hideouts in the Buzul mountains in southeast Turkey, near the location of the PKK’s attack on October 3. At press time the parties had not released the number of PKK casualties.
The October 3 ambush against Turkish troops came just two days before the Turkish parliament was to vote to extend the governments mandate for cross-border military strikes in northern Iraq. Under the current mandate authorized one year ago, the Turkish military carried out several air strikes and ground attacks against PKK bases, resulting in the deaths of scores of PKK members. The current mandate is set to expire on October 17.
While attending a funeral for one of the soldiers killed in Friday’s PKK attack, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated “There are measures to be taken against the (PKK) hideouts. We are expecting positive action on the ground.” Senior government officials agreed to meet this week to discuss taking further measures against the PKK.
The Turkish government demands that Iraq do more to diminish PKK capabilities, including denying the PKK infrastructure capabilities, such as roads and access to hospitals. The government estimates that some 2,000 PKK members are currently based in northern Iraq, from where they stage attacks, mainly targeting the Turkish military.
The Prime Minister and the military have vowed to increase operations to end the PKK’s ability to launch cross-border attacks against Turkey. In addition, they have rejected suggestions to negotiate with PKK leadership. According to Erdogan, Turkey “will now conduct its campaign against terrorism even more decisively.”
However, Erdogan announced plans to invest up to $12 billion in southeast Turkey and grant cultural rights to the Kurds, with the goal of diminishing support for the PKK among the Kurdish population. In the past, the government made similar promises, yet fell short of implementing them.
For more information, please see:
AFP – Turkish Jets Hit Kurdish Rebels in Iraq, Government Mulls Steps – 6 October 2008
Al Jazeera – Turkey Bombs PKK Bases in Iraq – 6 October 2008
CNN – Turkish Airstrikes Target Kurdish Rebels – 6 October 2008
Deutsche Welle – Turkey Steps Up New Campaign Against PKK in Northern Iraq
The Washington Post – Retaliatory Turkish Airstrikes Target Kurdish Rebels in Iraq – 6 October 2008
AFP –Turkey Slams Iraqi Kurds After Rebel Attack Kills 15 Soldiers – 5 October 2008
Hurriyet – Turkey’s PM Erdogan Calls on Action From N. Iraq Over PKK – 5 October 2008
Reuters – Pressure on Turkey to Crush PKK May Hurt U.S., EU Ties – 5 October 2008
The Washington Post – Turkey Launches Airstrikes Against Kurdish Rebels– 5 October 2008
