Turkey to increase presence in N. Iraq

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey is preparing to take the fight against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) to northern Iraq by turning outposts it has maintained for intelligence gathering there since 1995 into operational front garrisons, Today's Zaman reported.

According to confidential sources talking about the August 18 National Security Council (MGK) meeting, chaired by President Abdullah Gül, the government has decided to restructure the troops it has deployed in the Bamerni, Batufa, Kanimasi and Dilmentepe outposts in Northern Iraq. The Bamerni garrison will be turned into a logistics center for supporting major operations to be conducted against the PKK militants in the region. Turkey maintains 2500 troops in Northern Iraq and they were deployed in 1995 with the permission of the Kurdish regional government. The Special Operations Command also has liaison offices in Süleymaniye and Arbil. The professional units from Şırnak province would be deployed in the region and the air support and bombing operations would continue. The government also plans to submit to parliament a renewal of a resolution that allows cross-border operations.

The Turkish military have conducted over 25 cross-border operations so far, but they have been short-lived under pressure from allies and regional governments. Sources says that this time Turkey is determined to stay as long as needed “to finish off the threat of terrorism originating in Northern Iraq.”

The MGK issued a written statement after a regular meeting, saying it would adopt a “more effective and decisive strategy in the fight against terrorism.” The statement did not elaborate on what those measures would be, but sources say the government would adopt a multilateral approach in tackling the PKK, from deploying professional units in and outside of Turkey to increased intelligence gathering on the ground.