Turkish air raids on Kurdish rebels

Turkish air raids on Kurdish rebels General Yasar Buyukanit said Sunday's strikes had been successful 17.12.2007 11:47:48 General Yasar Buyukanit said that Sunday's strikes had been successful and all targets had been destroyed. (live-PR.com) - General Yasar Buyukanit said that Sunday's strikes had been successful and all targets had been destroyed. General Yasar Buyukanit was quoted by the agency as telling the private television channel."But what is more important is that the United States last (Sunday) night opened northern Iraqi airspace to us. By doing that, the US approved the operation," Buyukanit said. At a meeting between Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and George W. Bush in Washington on November 5, the U.S. leader pledged to share military intelligence with Ankara on Kurdish militants. US embassy in Iraq said commanders had not approved the attacks, but had been informed before they took place.Turkish military earlier said the US had given tacit approval by opening Iraqi airspace for the operation. Turkish PM,Tayyip Erodogan,said attack had been a success and more military action to come."our struggle will continue inside and outside Turkey with same determination." Iraqi officials said the bombs hit 10 villages near the border, killing one woman. The PKK reported seven deaths. Iraq later summoned the Turkish ambassador and demanded a halt to the strikes, saying they were unacceptable and could seriously harm relations between the two countries. United States backed Turkish air raids on Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq with intelligence and clearance to enter Iraqi airspace, Turkey's army chief said.Turkey has launched the biggest air attack on suspected PKK insurgent camps with 50 warplanes to bomb inside Iraqi territory with long range artillery shelling. Strike carried in the middle of the night sent hundred on families fleeing adding spark to the violence in the area of northern Iraq. General Yasar Buyukanit was quoted by the agency as telling the private television channel. "But what is more important is that the United States last (Sunday) night opened northern Iraqi airspace to us. By doing that, the US approved the operation," Buyukanit said. The general staff announced earlier that Turkish warplanes had carried out air strikes early on Sunday against positions of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants in the Kurdish-run north of Iraq. Artillery pounded the targets after the air raids, it said. He said winter conditions in mountainous northern Iraq would provide no refuge for the rebels who have been waging a 23-year campaign for self-rule in Turkey's southeast. Buyukanit said that Sunday's strikes had been successful and all targets had been destroyed. He denied that villages along the border had been struck, and said that the strikes targeted PKK camps that had been previously identified. Press Information: Enkaysagar Holdings Private Limited India Contact Person: Nksagar Chairman Phone: 9810974027 eMail: eMail Web: http://www.Nksagar.com