Turkey Bombs Rebels in Iraqi Mountains

Attacks must end 'as soon as possible,' Baghdad warns
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 23, 2008 3:28 PM CST
Turkey Bombs Rebels in Iraqi Mountains
A Turkish soldier patrols to secure a main road near Cukurca in Hakkari province, Turkey with snow-covered mountains that form Turkey-Iraq border in the background, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008, after the Turkish army launched a ground operation Thursday night against Kurdish rebels based in northern Iraq....   (Associated Press)

Fighting continued in semiautonomous Kurdistan today as Turkey’s air and artillery forces let loose a hail of bombs in the mountains of northern Iraq, the AP reports. The strikes are ratcheting up tension between Turkey and the US-backed Iraqi government: Iraq’s foreign minister today told Turkey to get out “as soon as possible.”

Turkey has promised a limited offensive targeting only rebel fighters and strongholds, and Kurdish leaders today warned that Turkey will face “massive resistance” if it hits civilians. Ankara tallies 79 rebels dead since Thursday’s incursion, including 35 today. The Kurds say they’ve killed 15 Turks so far. (More Turkey stories.)

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