SULAIMANIYAH, ISTANBUL (Agencies)
Turkey is planning a new military incursion into northern Iraq targeting Kurdish rebels, a spokesman for the guerrillas said, hours after the Turkish army said its warplanes have targeted Kurdish bases in Northern Iraq on Saturday.
"We have information that new (Turkish) troops are being gathered along the border," said Ahmed Danis, spokesman for the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
"We expect Turkish troops to launch a new incursion into northern Iraq. The PKK is ready to confront any Turkish aggression."
Danis said Turkish aircraft launched a raid early on Saturday in the Khwarkuk district along the border with Turkey, the second such attack in two days.
The Turkish military has carried out a series of air attacks on northern Iraq since the end of a February land offensive into the neighboring country, where rebels have bases.
The army tends to step up operations against the PKK in the spring when the snow melts, making it easier to move about in the mountainous region.
"Turkish Airforce planes, supported by ground weapons, struck PKK targets in an effective operation on April 25-26," the General Staff said in a statement on its website.
Army sources had said on Friday an air operation was carried out at around 1630 GMT.
In February the army conducted a week-long ground offensive against PKK hideouts in the region, where Ankara estimates more than 2,000 militants are holed up.
The Turkish government has a one-year parliamentary authorization, expiring in October, to launch cross-border raids.
The United States has backed military action against the rebels by providing Turkey with real-time intelligence on PKK movements. |
