Posted on 04/20/2022 10:50:46 AM PDT by ransomnote
In a cross-border ground assault supported by artillery, aircraft, helicopters, and drones, Turkey has launched an invasion of Iraq in order to take out the insurgent group in the northern part.
According to the Defense Ministry in Ankara, Turkey has launched a large cross-border military attack against Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) insurgents in northern Iraq.
Defense Minister Hulusi Akar declared the operation in a video speech on Monday morning, saying it will include a comprehensive airstrike campaign involving jets, helicopters, and drones, as well as a land incursion by commando troops.
Ankara asserts it eliminated many PKK bunkers, tunnels, and ammo depots, and also military base, in northern Iraq’s border areas of Metina, Zap, and Avashin-Basyan, before ground troops entered the neighboring state. The number of troops and military equipment engaged in the operation is unknown.
“Our operation is continuing successfully, as planned. The targets that were set for the first phase have been achieved,” Akar said, as cited by AP.
Turkish soldiers are exclusively targeting “terrorists,” according to the minister, and are actively taking steps to avoid civilian casualties and damage to cultural heritage sites.
“Our struggle will continue until the last terrorist is neutralized,” he said. “We are determined to save our noble nation from the terror misfortune that has plagued our country for 40 years.”
The PKK is a Kurdish insurgent political group and armed guerrilla force struggling for an independent Kurdistan. It has been at odds with Ankara since 1984, costing over 40,000 deaths in the process. Turkey has launched a number of military operations against the PKK, which is entrenched in northern Iraq and has used the region to support insurgency in the country’s east.
The US, UK, and EU have all recognized the PKK as a terrorist organization. However, in the struggle against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) terrorists in Syria and Iraq, the Kurds were a vital ally for the West and the US. In Syria’s Kurdish-controlled parts, Washington has a military presence, while in Iraq’s Kurdistan region, there are multiple American military sites and a US consulate in Erbil.
“Bush The Younger was a disaster.”
This has been an on-again/off-again fight for decades.
“On paper the Turkish Amry is HUGE. I am not sure how effective that huge army is under fire.”
The last “big fight” the Turks engaged in was in the Korean War. They can be tough fighters if properly motivated.
The only reason I cheer on the Kurds is because they should have their own country. Everyone should. Now if that happens and they commie up and take on the Turks like real nationalists I hope they get their arses kicked.
“Not one captured Turk gave in to the Chinese brainwashing. IIRC.”
The Chinese were afraid of the Turks. They thought they were barbarians. Imagine that!
I read that the Chinese would tell captured Turks. “You don’t have leaders now. You are all the same.” Then the ranking Turk would stand up and say, “I am Commander”. The Chinese would take him away and the next guy would stand up and say, “Now I am Commander.” This would go on a while until the Chinese gave up.
We need that White Rabbit.
Third World launches invasion of America.
I’d still be for neither side. The Turks suck, shouldn’t be part of NATO or the EU.
I’m pretty sure that’s a picture of Morgan Ortagus after she was notified that she was among the group of Tennessee candidates denied inclusion on the primary ballot over residency issues. 🤣
IIRC, Turkey is supplying weapons to Ukraine. Mist be itching to fight somebody.
Turkey and Iran are on a collision course in the ME unless something changes.
Things do seem to be unraveling.
I think we shall find out how far this crazy train is going to go.
Arm the Kurds 🤪
Against the invaders
WW 3 seems to be spreading.
The Elder was not any better.
We had a chance in the early days of the pretend War on Terror, to fortify and provide the Kurds with the tools to gain their own freedom as they have been promised over decades. We didn’t, we bowed to the Turks, who have no business being in NATO, or being called an ally.
“We had a chance in the early days of the pretend War on Terror, to fortify and provide the Kurds with the tools to gain their own freedom as they have been promised over decades. We didn’t, we bowed to the Turks, who have no business being in NATO, or being called an ally.”
NATO made a Faustian bargain when it allowed Turkey into NATO. At the time it did make some sense: Put NATO on the southern border of the USSR. And, as long as Turkey was secular in its government, and it didn’t do stupid things vis-a-vis its neighbors, it seemed to work rather well. But, Turkey decided to invade a neighbor (Cyprus) in the mid-1970s, and when the US criticized that action, Turkey demanded that the US vacate its bases in Turkey (which, we pretty much did; however, a couple were allowed to remain, in a kind of uneasy agreement). Then, Turkey decided that secularism wasn’t its cup of tea, after all; and it decided an islamist focus should be the way forward. That’s when the relationship really began to sour.
Could be a headline from 2,500 years ago.
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