Turkish Army Readies Invasion of Northern Iraq
For months now, Turkish politicians and Army officers have been hinting that the Turkish Army could mount an invasion of northern Iraq in a effort to suppress Kurdish Nationalists. Last week there was a suicide bomb attack in Ankara that killed a number civilians. Today, the BBC World News Service is reporting that Turkish troops appear to be massing on the northern frontier of Iraq.
Tension is rising on Turkey’s border with Iraq amid speculation Ankara may be about to launch an incursion to tackle Kurdish rebels. Turkey is continuing a military build up and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has refused to rule out action. Turkey blames rebels of the PKK group for a recent suicide bombing in Ankara and a landmine attack on troops.
Turkey has an ongoing military campaign against the PKK, or Kurdistan Workers’ Party, inside its borders but the US has warned Ankara that sending troops into Iraq would only complicate the situation.
Last week two US F-16 fighter jets based in Iraq made an incursion into Turkish airspace that Turkish media said was an attempt to intimidate Ankara into refraining from any action inside Iraq.
The US said the violation of the airspace was “unintended” and was under investigation.