Turkey: PKK "strangulation" action plan
Three security zones in southeastern Turkey designated by Turkish military to launch operations against PKK guerrillas
Three security zones in southeastern Turkey have been designated by the Turkish army for a quarter to launch operations against PKK Kurdish rebels, the General Staff in Ankara announced. According to the statement, from June 9 to September 9, the army will launch a large-scale operation in three mountainous and uninhabited areas in the provinces of Siirt, Sirnak and Hakkari, near the border with Iraq. Checkpoints will be set up in these areas and citizens will not be allowed access.
Ankara, as well as the White House and Iraq, have denied US media reports that thousands of Turkish troops invaded northern Iraq on Wednesday night to pursue Kurdish PKK rebels. Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has denied the allegations, stressing that there is currently no foreign invasion. "No one should forget that we are at war with terrorism. Well, we are ready to do whatever it takes to root out terrorism," Gul said.
Washington has warned Ankara not to invade northern Iraq, as this would provoke strong reactions and destabilize the region of Iraqi Kurdistan, which remains the safest in Iraq. The Turkish generals, however, have repeatedly stated that they are ready to carry out the invasion, and we should not forget that such an operation is convenient for the Turkish establishment, because it will be given the opportunity to re-emerge as the only force that defends its interests. of the country.
Erdogan's intervention
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated on Thursday that military intervention in northern Iraq required parliamentary approval, following reports that thousands of Turkish troops had crossed the Turkish-Iraqi border to cross the Turkish border into Iraq.
" We need a parliamentary decision to cross the border and the appropriate measures to be taken, " Erdogan was quoted as saying by the Anatoli news agency. The Turkish Prime Minister, however, stressed that any operation will not be made public.
