Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., February 24, 2008 Adar1 18, 5768 | | Israel Time: 03:34 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 00:40 23/02/2008 Turkish army launches ground offensive into northern Iraq By Reuters and The Associated Press Tags: Iraq, U.S. Military, Turkey  The Turkish military said five of its troops and 24 Kurdish rebels were killed Friday in border clashes after the Turkish military launched a ground incursion against Kurdish rebel bases in northern Iraq. The military said at least 20 more rebels were killed by artillery and helicopter gunships. Ahmad Danas, a spokesman for the separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, said the rebels were prepared for the ground action after Turkish warplanes and artillery bombed suspected rebel targets on Thursday. Advertisement "The PKK forces are defending the Iraqi lands of Kurdistan and will prevent Turkish army from entering deep in the Iraqi land," Danas said earlier Friday. Thousands of Turkish troops have crossed into northern Iraq with thousands more at the border ready to join them in their hunt for Kurdish PKK guerrillas, a senior military source said earlier on Friday. A source quoted on CNN Turk said the offensive is planned to last 15 days. Earlier, the military General Staff and Turkey's political leaders said the troops would return home as soon as they had accomplished their mission against the PKK, but they gave no timeframe. Turkey's military said the land offensive would be supported by fighter jets and Turkish television reported that 10,000 troops had entered Iraq. "The Turkish Armed Forces, which attach great importance to Iraq's territorial integrity and stability, will return home in the shortest time possible after its goals have been achieved," the General Staff said in a statement posted on its Web site. The military source based in southeast Turkey told Reuters: "Thousands of troops have crossed the border and thousands more are waiting at the border to join them if necessary." The U.S. military said it was aware that Turkish forces had launched an offensive into northern Iraq against members of the PKK, considered a terrorist group by Ankara, the United States and the European Union. Rear Admiral Gregory Smith, a U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad, said the operation was understood to be of "limited duration" and specifically targeted at PKK fighters in the largely autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq. "Turkey has given its assurances that it will do everything possible to avoid collateral damage to innocent citizens or Kurdish infrastructure," Smith said in a statement. NATO member Turkey says it has the right under international law to hit PKK rebels who take shelter in northern Iraq and have mounted attacks inside Turkey that have killed scores of troops. Turkey says it believes some 3,000 PKK rebels are based in Iraq. Turkey's military said the cross-border offensive was launched at 7 P.M. on Thursday. NTV said troops had moved 10 km inside Iraq. Turkish financial markets dipped slightly on news of the offensive, a possibility that had been mooted by Foreign Minister Ali Babacan on Tuesday and in a statement from Turkey's National Security Council (MGK) after a meeting on Thursday. Related articles: Report: Turkey using drones in N. Iraq with help of Israeli crews Rice urges Turkey to avoid major military offensive against Iraqi Kurds Bookmark to del.icio.us   Auschwitz gimmick U.K. Tory chief draws fire for calling school visits to Auschwitz a gimmick. 5 Stops in Galilee Rock hares, peach orchards, a taste of the past, and walking the Jesus trail.   1.   About TIME 13:19  |  Nihat 22/02/08   2.   No to Turkish occupation and brutality! 13:38  |  Stellios Marcou 22/02/08   3.   Stellios Marcou - How about Greek brutality over Turks? 15:58  |  David Israel 22/02/08   4.   Turks and Kurds... 16:59  |  Stephen. 22/02/08   5.   I am waiting for a condemnation 17:28  |  natan 22/02/08   6.   Turks ravaging the Kurds 17:34  |  Brod 22/02/08   7.   Turkish security in Northern Iraq 18:29  |  Erdinch 22/02/08   8.   Peace 18:33  |  Hasan 22/02/08   9.   Turkish Army in Norther Iraq#2 19:00  |  Erdinch 22/02/08   10.   Turks ravaging the Kurds 19:19  |  Brod 22/02/08   11.   Finally! 19:44  |  Americana 22/02/08   12.   Nobody cares 19:47  |  Michael 22/02/08   13.   US EU KOSOVO RECOGNITION PROMPTED THIS 19:55  |  Arik Silverman 22/02/08   14.   Kosovo WILL go back to Serbia 21:10  |  Man 22/02/08   15.   Nortern Iraq 21:42  |  Erdinch 22/02/08   16.   rebels 22:01  |  Fatih YILDIRIM 22/02/08   17.   Kosivo - Kurdistan 22:11  |  Shlomo Hershcovici 22/02/08   18.   Fatih Yildirim - you make a good point 23:23  |  David Israel 22/02/08   19.   Condemnation 00:14  |  Michael 23/02/08   20.   Condemnation 00:16  |  Michael 23/02/08   21.   #13 Arik Silverman. Very much so. 01:47  |  Stephen. 23/02/08   22.   If the turks had invaded 5 years ago, there wouldn`t have problem 02:32  |  Voice of Reason 23/02/08   23.   Nuts To Everybody! 07:45  |  Yosemite 23/02/08   24.   David Israel lost cause with Turks understanding Jews 02:43  |  Genuine Tosefta 24/02/08

Today Online Bradley Burston: This November, I'm voting christian Responses: 103 Iron Dome system found to be helpless against Qassams Responses: 220 Nasrallah: We're readying for war with Israel within months Responses: 319 U.S. to announce new aid plan for West Bank, Gaza Strip Responses: 167 Daniel Levy: Obama's change could be good for Israel Responses: 115 McCain, a supporter of Israel with a 'Judeophile' brother Responses: 138 Rosner's Domain Iran Could Have Enough Uranium for a Bomb by Year's End (WTR) Poll: Is it time for Israel to end the blockade in Gaza? What America wants from an operation in Gaza Guests: Jewish women don't want to be shut out U.S. victims of Palestinian terror await gov't stance on compensation More Headlines 03:17 IDF braces for mass march on Gaza border 02:59 Skinhead-turned-Haredi embodies Poland's Jewish life 01:41 IDF officials: W. Bank unit abuse charges aren't 'moral crisis' 21:59 Foreign Ministry: IAEA report proves Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons 02:20 ANALYSIS: After IAEA report, Iran just wants to buy time 22:09 Abducted IDF soldier's brother: We're afraid he'll be next Ron Arad 14:22 Ramon calls for evacuation of settlers east of security fence 20:47 Settlers attack left-wing activists escorting W. Bank shepherds 18:31 Barak to hold consultations Sunday on proposed Egypt border fence 12:18 IDF arrests senior PFLP operative in Nablus refugee camp 21:59 Sderot mayor denies calling for cease-fire talks with Hamas Previous Editions Select Day 22 feb 21 feb 20 feb 19 feb 18 feb 17 feb 15 feb 14 feb 13 feb 12 feb 11 feb 10 feb

Special Offers Advertisement 7589 rockets fired so far HELP US TO HELP THEM Marina Royale Herzelia Pituach Your Luxurious Suite While Staying in Israel Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved