Turkey: Troops pursue rebels into Iraq

Turkey: Troops pursue rebels into Iraq

Turkish troops are reported to have pursued Kurdish rebels into Iraq using fighter jets and helicopter gunships.

This occurred after the overnight attacks on military installations in Hakkari province, near the Iraqi border, which killed at least 26 Turkish soldiers.

Reports say the attacks have inflicted the biggest loss on Turkish forces since 1993 and President Abdullah Gul has vowed to avenge them.

The Violence between the army and separatist rebels has been going on now for some time.

The attacks

The attacks come a day after a blast in the south-east Bitlis province killed five police officers and three others.

Also in mid-August nine troops were killed by rebels in Hakkari province.

Turkey has however responded to this with a police crackdown on suspected rebel sympathizers and air strikes on Kurdish sites in northern Iraq.

Consequently, scores of rebels have died.

Meanwhile rebels are seeking greater autonomy in the country's Kurdish-dominated south-east, and have killed dozens of members of the country's security forces, and at least 17 civilians, since mid-July.

The latest violence - thought to be at least two simultaneous ambushes - took place in Cukurca and the district of Yuksekova overnight.

The ministry of interior said 26 soldiers had died and 16 were injured.

"No-one should forget that those who make us suffer this pain will be made to suffer even stronger," President Gul told newsmen. "They will see that the vengeance for these attacks will be great."

According to reports, fighter jets and gunships have been leaving the main air base in the south-east.
As a result, the prime minister and foreign minister have cancelled overseas trips in response to the bloodshed, while the interior and defense ministers rushed to the border area.

Security officials told newsmen that 15 militants had died in clashes near the Iraqi border.
Reports say this is the biggest attack in terms of soldiers' loss of life since 1993.

The Turkish parliament recently renewed the law that permits Turkish forces to pursue rebels over the border unhindered.

BBC/Adekusibe/Ekata