Turkey Invades Northern Border Of Iraq

The Turkish military on Friday, invaded the northern border of Iraq with a ground operation against Kurdish rebels.  Turkey was threatening to do this previously, but met resistance from the United States.

Turkey gave the United States and Iraqi authorities advance notice of its incursion, White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said.

“We were notified and we urged the Turkish government to limit their operations to precise targeting of the PKK - to limit the scope and duration of their operations - and we urged them to work, directly, with Iraqis, including Kurdish government officials, on how best to address the threat,” Stanzel told reporters.

This is the first significant Turkish ground offensive into Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime five years ago.

Citing Turkish media reports estimating that as many as 10,000 Turkish troops had been involved, Fadi Hakura, an analyst with UK military thinktank Chatham House, said the operation was the first major incursion by Turkey into Iraq since Hussein was toppled in 2003.

Hakura said the Turkish military wanted to conduct a surprise attack against the PKK prior to the springtime, when violent attacks tend to escalate, and when the snow in the mountainous border region leaves the fighters’ footprints.

Fred Soto is an Attorney and Entrepreneur from the Silicon Valley.
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