‘Turkey may launch ground offensive into Iraq at any time’

Interior Minister İdris Naim Şahin said in response to questions from reporters as to whether Turkey is pondering a ground operation in northern Iraq that talks with the Kurdish regional administration in northern Iraq are still under way and that a cross-border ground offensive could be launched at any time just like aerial strikes. In August, the Turkish military launched aerial attacks on PKK targets in northern Iraq, killing up to 160 terrorists. The PKK uses its bases in northern Iraq to launch attacks on Turkey. Its Iranian wing, the Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan (PJAK), is also involved in clashes with Iranian forces. Last week, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioğlu travelled to Iraq and discussed the issue of the fight against terrorism, as well as bilateral and regional issues, with Iraqi Kurdish officials. Sinirlioğlu’s visit to Iraq comes amid a surge in PKK attacks on Turkish troops. Dozens of troops were killed in PKK attacks over the past couple of months.

Last Thursday, opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli called on the government to authorize a ground offensive against PKK targets in northern Iraq before winter, saying “no stone should be left unturned” in the Kandil Mountains where the PKK has bases. Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Necdet Özel and other top commanders inspected troops in southeastern Anatolia last week, raising speculations that the military might be preparing for a ground offensive in northern Iraq.

A security summit was also held at the Prime Ministry on Monday before Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan left the country for a visit to Egypt.

Turkey has launched several cross-border air and ground operations in northern Iraq during a conflict that first erupted in the 1980s. The last major incursion was in early 2008, when Turkey sent 10,000 troops, backed by air power, into northern Iraq.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Beşir Atalay has said that the government has been working on a comprehensive project in order to fight against the PKK. He said the PKK will not be able to move freely in the Kandil Mountains. “There will be more security around Kandil and Arbil. We talked about cooperating with [Massoud] Barzani in that regard and he agreed with us, so we’re working on it,” he said.

Atalay also said intelligence sharing among the National Intelligence Organization (MİT), the gendarmerie and the police is going well with regard to the fight against the PKK.

Asked by journalists about an Iranian offer to cooperate in the fight against the PKK, Atalay said they will not cooperate in the military area but will do so in intelligence.

Atalay also added that the security aspect is important in fighting the PKK but that the government’s democratic initiative is continuing with regard to the Kurdish issue. Reminded by reporters about possible Israeli assistance to the PKK, Atalay said Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s denial of a report suggesting that he offered to hold meetings with leaders of the PKK in retaliation for Turkey’s sanctions on Israel was not sincere.

Yedioth Ahronoth, an Israeli daily, reported on Friday that the hawkish Israeli foreign minister had been planning to meet with PKK leaders in Europe to discuss cooperation with the terrorist group in every possible way. Lieberman has been planning a series of measures to retaliate against Turkey over an apology row, including providing military aid to the outlawed PKK, the daily said. A statement delivered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Friday did not deny or confirm the plan, but called for restraint with regard to statements concerning Turkey, the Israeli Haaretz daily reported.

On Monday, speaking on a land operation against the PKK, Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç said the timing of the operation is not certain and that “those things are not announced beforehand.” Arınç also said Turkey’s Foreign Ministry is working on the issue of obtaining unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from the United States.

Reports surfaced following Prime Minister Erdoğan’s complaint last week that Israel had delayed the delivery of Heron drones Turkey sent to the country for maintenance that Turkey has been wrangling with Israel over the maintenance matter for a long time.