American Entropy: Turkey unhappy with Iraqi PKK, shells N. Iraq

08 August 2006

Turkey unhappy with Iraqi PKK, shells N. Iraq

Background here, here, and here.

Yesterday, Monday, blasted US and Iraqi efforts to control Kurdish terrorist organization PKK operating in N. Iraq. Coming off an agreement that seemed to temporarily pacify Turkey's threats of entering Kurdistan to deal with the PKK set up the new Iraqi government.

In a press conference Monday, Turkey's Justice Minister stated "that the steps being taken by the United States and Iraqi authorities to deal with the presence in North Iraq of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in northern Iraq have not met Turkey's expectations." Later that night and into Tuesday morning Turkish artillery began "heavy" bombardment of PKK camps and nearby villages in N. Iraq. It is not clear whether or not this operation was approved by the Americans or the Iraqis (who should be the only one making decisions if they are sovereign and still a legitimate government), but the comments made be Turkish officials would indicate this is a unilateral action taken by the Turkish military.

More background from Daveed Gartenstein-Ross at counterterrorismblog.org last week.

Posted by Geoff

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