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Turkish army confirms air raid, shelling in northern Iraq

Turkey planning new incursion into Iraq: PKK
Turkey is planning a new military incursion into northern Iraq targeting Kurdish rebels, a spokesman for the guerrillas said, adding that warplanes also launched an air raid 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 raid lasted for an hour from 6:00 am (0300 GMT), Danis said. The Turkish general staff said on its website the raid targeted PKK rebels in the Zap, Avashin and Khakurk regions. "All planes returned to base safely after successfully executing their mission," it added. Turkish forces have targeted PKK positions in northern Iraq since mid-December, and on Friday Turkish planes also bombed Kurdish rebel hideouts. 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 authorisation, 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. Listed as a terrorist group by Turkey and much of the international community, the PKK has been fighting for self-rule in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast since 1984 in a conflict that has claimed more than 37,000 lives.
by Staff Writers
 Ankara (AFP) April 26, 2008
 Turkish warplanes and artillery have targeted Kurdish rebels in neighbouring northern Iraq this weekend, the Turkish army said on Saturday.

The strikes, on Friday and Saturday, targeted a group of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) rebels in the Zap, Avashin and Khakurk regions who were trying to penetrate the border for attacks on Turkish territory, the general staff said in a statement on its Internet site.

"All planes returned to base safely after successfully executing their mission," it added.

Turkish warplanes have been striking PKK positions in northern Iraq since mid-December.

In February, the army conducted a week-long ground offensive against PKK hideouts in the region, where Ankara estimates more than 2,000 militants take refuge.

PKK spokesman Ahmed Danis told AFP that the first bombing began around 8:00 pm (1700 GMT) on Friday while a second raid lasted for an hour from 6:00 am (0300 GMT) Saturday.

He also claimed that the Turkish military was planning a fresh cross-border military incursion into northern Iraq.

"We have information that new (Turkish) troops are being gathered along the border," Danis said.

"We expect Turkish troops to launch a new incursion into northern Iraq. The PKK is ready to confront any Turkish aggression."

Meanwhile, a Turkish soldier and a village guard -- a government-armed Turkish Kurd militiamen fighting the rebels -- were killed late Friday in the southeastern Turkish province of Sirnak when they stepped onto a mine believed to have been planted by PKK militants, the army said.

The Turkish government has a one-year parliamentary authorisation, which expires in October, for raids across the border.

The United States has backed Turkish military action against the rebels by providing real-time intelligence on PKK movements.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist group by Turkey and much of the international community, has been fighting for self-rule in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast since 1984. The conflict has claimed more than 37,000 lives.

burs-han/rt

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THE STANS
US concerned about Pakistan-Taliban peace deal
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