Turkish troops pursue Kurdish rebels into Iraq

[Gerald]

Turkish troops backed by fighter jets and helicopter gunships have pursued Kurdish rebels into Iraq.It follows overnight attacks on military installations in Hakkari province, near the Iraqi border, which killed at least 24 Turkish soldiers.The attacks are thought to have inflicted the biggest loss on Turkish forces since 1993 and President Abdullah Gul has vowed to avenge them.In recent months, violence between the army and Kurdish rebels has mounted.The attacks come a day after a blast in the south-east Bitlis province killed five police officers and three others.Dozens of members of the country's security forces, and at least 17 civilians, have been killed since mid-July.Turkey has responded with a police crackdown on suspected rebel sympathisers and air strikes on Kurdish sites in northern Iraq. Scores of insurgents have died.Guerrillas from the Kurdistan Workers' Party, the PKK, are seeking greater autonomy in the country's Kurdish-dominated south-east.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15369352

Note: 19 October 2011 Last updated at 13:48 GMT

[Jimbuna]

Things are sure to get more intense when US troops pull out.

[August]

My bet is on Turkey taking the north, Iran taking the south, and any surviving Sunnis will refugee to Saudi Arabia and Syria.

[Jimbuna]

I can certainly envisage Turkey in the north but doubt the US or Europe (wishful thinkking) tolerating any incursion by Iran.

[soopaman2]

I can certainly envisage Turkey in the north but doubt the US or Europe (wishful thinkking) tolerating any incursion by Iran.


Spot on.

Turkey is a friend to the West and a relatively modernized (even if still islamic governed) society,so a blind eye will be turned.

Iran on the other hand...

[Osmium Steele]

Spot on.

Turkey is a friend to the West and a relatively modernized (even if still islamic governed) society,so a blind eye will be turned.


While still on decent terms, less friendly elements are winning key elections and are trying hard to institute Sharia style reforms.

There is a strong anti-west undercurrent to their recent politics.

[TLAM Strike]

...but doubt the US or Europe (wishful thinkking) tolerating any incursion by Iran.
Happens (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14189313) all the (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8420774.stm) time (http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2010/me_iran0499_06_07.asp)...

[Tribesman]

"In a free Iraq..." what ever happened to that pipedream

My bet is on Turkey taking the north, Iran taking the south, and any surviving Sunnis will refugee to Saudi Arabia and Syria.
Turkey is mainly Sunni.


I can certainly envisage Turkey in the north but doubt the US or Europe (wishful thinkking) tolerating any incursion by Iran.
Hold on Jim, leaving aside the regular cross border stuff with the anti-Iran kurds if you look at the Iraqi governments Iran has the main assembly pretty much sewn up and has a serious holding in the Kurdish assembly with the Iranian backed Kurds.
Seriously the first diplomatic offices opened outside the sterile coilition diplomatc invention was the Lebanese govt...hezballah branch.

So Turkey ain't gonna take over the North as most countries understand that when you have a dodgy domestic region the last thing you want to do is bring a bigger foriegn dodgy area into you. As for Iran taking over the South....they done that already by proxy with lots of help from the coilition of the gullible.

[Sailor Steve]

Turkey is mainly Sunni.
Of course it is. It's in the desert, silly.


Sorry, couldn't resist. I'm having a good day; enjoy it while it lasts.

[Gerald]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15407142