[NYTr] Turkish General Says US Backed Overnight Strikes on PKK in Iraq

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

sent by Dave Muller - southnews 

AFP - Dec 17, 2007 [no URL provided]

US backed Turkish strikes: general

Correspondents in Ankara

THE US backed Turkish air raids on Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq 
overnight with intelligence and clearance to enter Iraqi airspace, 
Turkey's army chief said.

"The United States gave intelligence," General Yasar Buyukanit was 
quoted by the Anatolia news agency as telling the private television 
channel Kanal D.

"But what is more important is that the United States last night opened 
northern Iraqi airspace to us. By doing that, the United States
approved the operation," Gen Buyukanit said.

The general's staff announced earlier that Turkish warplanes had
carried out air strikes overnight against positions of the Kurdistan
Workers' Party (PKK) militants in the Kurdish-run north of Iraq.

Artillery pounded the targets after the air raids, they said.

"The PKK should watch its step. It should not forget that, for us, its 
camps and movement in northern Iraq are like a Big Brother show," the 
general said, referring to the popular reality TV show.

He said winter conditions in mountainous northern Iraq would provide no 
refuge for the rebels who have been waging a 23-year campaign for 
self-rule in Turkey's southeast.

"The Turkish Armed Forces have given the message to the Turkish public 
and the world that whether it is winter or summer, we will find and hit 
them (PKK rebels) even if they live in caves," Gen Buyukanit said.

Gen Buyukanit said the strikes had been successful and all targets had 
been destroyed.
He denied that villages along the border had been struck, and said that 
the strikes targeted PKK camps that had been previously identified.

"No civilian targets or villages were hit even accidentally," Ge 
Buyukanit said.

The general said he and his top commanders had watched the operation 
live at the general staff headquarters in Ankara.

"Last night, I did not sleep at all ... I went home in the morning with 
my mind at rest," he said.