Thursday, September 20, 2007
Turkish artillery shells Duhuk
Region
(Voices of Iraq) - Turkish artillery shelled border regions in Duhuk province, a source from the border guard forces said on Wednesday. "The border villages of Zakho and al-Emadiyah cities in Duhuk province were pounded late Tuesday by Turkish artillery," the source told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI) on condition of anonymity, noting that the shelling lasted until 8:00 am on Wednesday.
"More than 82 rounds hit different border regions in Duhuk," he explained. No word was available on the damage caused by the shelling. A local resident said that the Turkish shelling caused panic among civilians. Duhuk is the third province within Iraq's Kurdistan region It is in the far north of Iraq with borders with Turkey. It is located 460 km north of Baghdad.
"More than 82 rounds hit different border regions in Duhuk," he explained. No word was available on the damage caused by the shelling. A local resident said that the Turkish shelling caused panic among civilians. Duhuk is the third province within Iraq's Kurdistan region It is in the far north of Iraq with borders with Turkey. It is located 460 km north of Baghdad.
Labels: al-Emadiyah, Duhuk, Turkish forces, Zakho
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Turkish forces cross 1 km. over border into southern Kurdistan
Regional
(PUKmedia) - After we published news of deployment of nearly 300-350 thousands of a special Turkish commando force into Kurdistan Region territories in Zakho district near Turkish frontier, PUKmedia got private information stating that the Turkish force crossed the Iraqi border along 1 km and deployed in Sari Spi area which locates behind the villages of Bitkari and Spindari, north east of Zakho town, towards Jali district of the Turkish province of Hakari.
The sources said that the Turkish commandos force was deploying from time to time in the above-mentioned area during the past years particularly in Summer, stressing that these deployments of those forces are in frame work of the Turkish military concentrations’ on the Kurdistan Region borders and the threats which the Turkish leaders launched about conducting a military operation by the Turkish army.
Worth mentioning the Turkish artillery continuously shells the border areas in Zakho town; their claim is the existence of PKK elements there. Some Media also denied news of the incursion into the Iraqi territories; we reassure that the Turkish forces crossed the international borders by 1 km.
Labels: northern Iraq, PKK, Sari Spi, Turkish forces, Zakho district
Friday, July 27, 2007
Turkish forces shell Zakho border regions
Kurdistan
(Voices of Iraq) - The Turkish forces shelled border regions in Zakho district, a security source from the border guard forces in Duhuk province said on Thursday. "More than 30 cannonballs hit Shlash Dar, Serakork, Afla and Berbla regions in Zakho district, northwest of Duhuk, late Wednesday" the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
"The shelling lasts for an hour without causing casualties," he added. Meanwhile, local residents from shelled regions told the VOI that the Turkish artillery shelled regions near to the Deshesh village on borders with Turkey. "The shelling caused no casualties but spread fear among the residents," an eyewitness said.
Duhuk is the third province within Iraq's Kurdistan region It is in the far north of Iraq with borders with Turkey. It is located 460 km north of Baghdad.
"The shelling lasts for an hour without causing casualties," he added. Meanwhile, local residents from shelled regions told the VOI that the Turkish artillery shelled regions near to the Deshesh village on borders with Turkey. "The shelling caused no casualties but spread fear among the residents," an eyewitness said.
Duhuk is the third province within Iraq's Kurdistan region It is in the far north of Iraq with borders with Turkey. It is located 460 km north of Baghdad.
Labels: Duhuk, Turkish forces, Zakho district
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Turkish forces have entered Iraq near Dahuk
Security, Kurdistan, Turkey
(Al Bayyna Newspaper) - 22 MAY - Al Baynna Newspaper has been informed through its own sources that the military leadership has ordered the Turkish military to be prepared to enter Iraqi territory. The Turkish forces are now next to the Iraqi border and there are some special units that have already entered 5 km into Iraq near Dahuk.
This military activity follows a large military operation that occurred April 8th, 2005, which was called, “Broom Sweeper,” against the PKK. The Turkish forces are now in Shornak Province on the Turkish border. Around 20,000 additional troops have joined those already in Silobi along the Iraqi-Turkish border. Information confirms from Jizra city that tanks from the 23rd Armored Brigade have passed through the city to the Iraqi border and are supported by tens of Cobra and Sikorsky helicopters.
The Turkish paramilitary has intensified its operations in the Ghabar and Judi Mountains. Special Turkish Airborne troops have dropped on Harimiya, Missa, and Wadhithaba cross-roads in order to block these roads to rebels who are trying to escape. Information also mentions that Turkish Intelligence has erred because the groups of PKK fighters who had been in northern Iraq have already left because of pressure from the Iraqi central and Kurdistan region governments. These PKK fighters who have already fled will now use urban tactics against the Turkish forces in southern Turkey.
Labels: 23rd Armored Brigade, cobra helicopter, Ghabar and Judi Mountains, PKK, Shornak Province, Sikorsky helicopters, Turkish forces
Monday, April 23, 2007
Turkish forces kill 18 PKK militants
Security, Kurdistan, Turkey
(Xinhua) -- Turkish military announced in a statement on Saturday that it killed 18 militants of the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) and captured six others in last week's operations against the PKK. The statement released by The Turkish General Staff said that seven PKK members also surrendered to the Turkish security forces in the region.
The operations staged by the Turkish security forces in fight against the PKK have been continuing in eastern and southeastern Turkey since beginning of this spring. On April 12, Turkey's Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit even said a military operation might be launched to crack down on the PKK in northern Iraq.
PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, NATO and the European Union, launched an armed campaign for an ethnic homeland in the mainly Kurdish southeastern Turkey in 1984, sparking decades of strife that has claimed more than 30,000 lives.
The operations staged by the Turkish security forces in fight against the PKK have been continuing in eastern and southeastern Turkey since beginning of this spring. On April 12, Turkey's Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit even said a military operation might be launched to crack down on the PKK in northern Iraq.
PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, NATO and the European Union, launched an armed campaign for an ethnic homeland in the mainly Kurdish southeastern Turkey in 1984, sparking decades of strife that has claimed more than 30,000 lives.
COMMENT: The Turkish, Kurdish and PKK issue has escalated over the last few months. The deaths of the PKK members is likely to lead to further attacks by the PKK on Turkey. Ankara says the PKK use bases in northern Iraq to launch attacks into southern Turkey. Turkey is growing angry over the failure of U.S. and Iraqi forces to curb the attacks. Any Turkish military incursion into northern Iraq would put the already over-stretched U.S. military in the middle of a fight between two crucial partners, and Washington has urged Turkish restraint. A U.S. official blamed Kurdish authorities in northern Iraq for raising tensions with neighboring Turkey recently. The U.S. is mediating in talks between the Iraqis and Turks over the feud. COMMENT ENDS.
Labels: Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, PKK, Turkish forces
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Turkish army crosses into Iraq in pursuit of PKK
Security, Kurdistan, Turkey
(Zaman) - The Turkish army crossed 20 kilometers into Iraq in an effort to destroy camps located to the east of Zaho. Elsewhere in northern Iraq security forces went 30 to 40 kilometers in, up to the rural areas of the Haftanin, Sinaht and Pirbela provinces.
Sources from the military confirmed that platoons from the Kayseri province had earlier been deployed near the Iraqi border closer to the terrorist camps in northern Iraq. Sources said on Tuesday that the army would get to work clearing landmines that could impede them in an over-the-border operation against PKK camps in northern Iraq. To this end a 60-person bulwark team has been formed to clear landmines from Çalışkan village outside of Şırnak, regions near the Habur border crossing and the area around Hakkari's Çukurca and Şemdinli districts.
Security check points have been set up throughout Turkish regions near the Iraqi border by the army in order to cut off access to arms, ammunition or food to terrorists hiding out in the mountains. Military units have been set up in mountainous regions near the Iraqi border, and while activity in the region has increased over the past week, reinforcements are still being deployed to the area. The military units in place along the border are carrying out constant scanning and patrolling of the area, and reports indicate a large convoy of armored vehicles and tanks on their way to Cizre and Silopi. It is speculated that in addition to the special force units already placed along the border, another 200,000 soldiers have been moved to the region.
Sources from the military confirmed that platoons from the Kayseri province had earlier been deployed near the Iraqi border closer to the terrorist camps in northern Iraq. Sources said on Tuesday that the army would get to work clearing landmines that could impede them in an over-the-border operation against PKK camps in northern Iraq. To this end a 60-person bulwark team has been formed to clear landmines from Çalışkan village outside of Şırnak, regions near the Habur border crossing and the area around Hakkari's Çukurca and Şemdinli districts.
Security check points have been set up throughout Turkish regions near the Iraqi border by the army in order to cut off access to arms, ammunition or food to terrorists hiding out in the mountains. Military units have been set up in mountainous regions near the Iraqi border, and while activity in the region has increased over the past week, reinforcements are still being deployed to the area. The military units in place along the border are carrying out constant scanning and patrolling of the area, and reports indicate a large convoy of armored vehicles and tanks on their way to Cizre and Silopi. It is speculated that in addition to the special force units already placed along the border, another 200,000 soldiers have been moved to the region.
Labels: Kurdistan, PKK, Turkish forces, Zaho
Monday, April 09, 2007
Turkish forces shell northern Iraqi Kurdish village
Security, Turkey, Kurdistan
(VOI) – Turkish forces shelled with artillery the area of northern Zakhu, on the borders of Iraq, but no casualties or injuries were reported, eyewitnesses in Bativa in northern Zakhu said on Sunday. "The shelling occurred on Sunday, about 2 km north of the village of Nazdor," Mustafa Shilani, a local from the village, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI). He said no casualties resulted from the attack but it caused panic among the villagers.
Zakhu is the capital city of Dahuk in the Iraqi Kurdistan region. Brig. Fahmi Sufi, deputy commander of the Peshmerga's 1st Division, told VOI by telephone that nine Turkish 120 mm artillery shells were fired near the border village of Nazdor. The Peshmerga forces are Kurdish militias loyal to the largest two Kurdish parties: Massoud Barzani's Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).
COMMENT: It is possible the attack was both a warning and in retaliation for three Turkish soldiers allegedly killed a few days ago by the PKK. The concern is that the tension will mount and as ground conditions improve as spring starts retaliation attacks will continue which could mount. COMMENT ENDS.
Labels: artillery shells, PKK, Turkish forces, Zakhu
