- Title: TURKEY: Turkish PM Erdogan says offensive strikes blow against PKK
- Date: 1st March 2008
- Summary: (BN16) HAKKARI, TURKEY (FEBRUARY 29, 2008) (REUTERS) TRUCKS CARRYING SOLDIERS AND TOWING ARTILLERY GUNS DRIVING FROM BORDER VARIOUS OF MILITARY CONVOY HELICOPTERS HOVERING OVER TURKISH MILITARY CONVOY RETURNING FROM NORTHERN IRAQ VARIOUS OF MILITARY TRUCKS DRIVING THROUGH VILLAGE CARRYING SOLDIERS WHICH ARE RETURNING FROM NORTHERN IRAQ VARIOUS OF MILITARY CONVOYS AND TANKS
- Embargoed: 16th March 2008 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Turkey
- Country: Turkey
- Topics: International Relations,Defence / Military
- Reuters ID: LVADX3OSIVUH0U97844QDHTYK06C
- Story Text: In his monthly address to the nation, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday (February 29th) said the air-supported land offensive has struck an important blow against the terrorist organisation at an unexpected time.
"According to the first assessments of our general staff, great successes have been achieved and certain targets have been largely destroyed in the offensive that was completed early in the morning. This offensive has struck an important blow against the terrorist organisation at an unexpected time and our fight against terrorism will continue with determination,"
said Erdogan.
Turkey pulled its troops out of northern Iraq on Friday, ending a major offensive against Kurdish PKK rebels that Washington had feared might destabilise the wider region.
A statement by Turkey's armed forces General Staff denied any foreign influence on the decision, which came a day after U.S President George W. Bush urged a swift end to the offensive.
"There was no question of completely liquidating the terrorist organisation, but Turkey has shown the organisation that northern Iraq is not a safe haven for them," the General Staff said.
Turkey, which has NATO's second biggest army, sent thousands of soldiers into mountainous northern Iraq on Feb. 21 to crush rebels of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) who use the region as a base for attacks on Turkish territory.
The General Staff said it had killed 240 rebels and suffered the loss of 27 soldiers during the eight-day offensive, waged in deep snow and subzero temperatures in tough mountainous terrain.
"It was determined that the aims set at the start of the operation had been achieved... Our units returned to their bases (in Turkey) on the morning of Feb. 29," the statement said.
Iraq and the United States both welcomed the withdrawal.
"It must be recognised that military power alone will not resolve this conflict," Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barhan Salih, a Kurd, told Reuters.
The withdrawal without apparently rooting out all PKK bases, especially in the Qandil mountains, will raise questions about how seriously weakened the rebel movement has been.
The PKK in Iraq claimed victory over Turkey on Friday.
"Because of the fierce battles between the PKK and the Turkish forces, the Turkish forces have withdrawn," said Ahmed Danees, the PKK's foreign relations spokesman in northern Iraq.
The PKK said it killed more than 130 Turkish troops but only five rebels had died. It was not possible to verify the figures.
A senior Turkish military source has said some 10,000 troops had been involved in the northern Iraq operation, which mainly centred on the Zap valley. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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