Turkey extends mandate for incursions into Iraq to fight PKK

PanARMENIAN.Net - A government motion seeking a one-year extension of the mandate from the Turkish parliament to conduct military operations against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq was approved by an overwhelming majority of deputies late on Thursday, Oct 11, according to Today's Zaman.

The pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) was the only party that voted against the motion.

The government obtained a mandate for cross-border military operations last week from parliament after mortar shells from Syria killed five civilians in the border town of Akçakale. While defending the motion, the government said it was intended to serve as a deterrent.

"Terrorist attacks and open threats from PKK groups sheltering in northern Iraq still continue against the Turkish nation's peace and security, and against Turkey's national unity and territorial integrity," the motion said.

Turkey has stepped up air operations on suspected PKK rebels in northern Iraq over the past year after an increase in PKK attacks, and the raids have fueled tensions between Ankara and Baghdad.