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Turkey sends ground forces into Iraq after militant attacks | Turkey sends ground forces into Iraq after militant attacks |
(35 minutes later) | |
Turkish ground forces have crossed into Iraq in pursuit of Kurdish militants for the first time since a ceasefire two years ago. | Turkish ground forces have crossed into Iraq in pursuit of Kurdish militants for the first time since a ceasefire two years ago. |
Government officials said the incursion was a "short-term" measure to hunt down PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) rebels. | Government officials said the incursion was a "short-term" measure to hunt down PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) rebels. |
Turkish warplanes also launched a wave of air strikes on PKK bases in northern Iraq on Tuesday. | Turkish warplanes also launched a wave of air strikes on PKK bases in northern Iraq on Tuesday. |
Meanwhile, at least 14 Turkish police officers died in a bomb attack blamed on Kurdish militants on Tuesday. | Meanwhile, at least 14 Turkish police officers died in a bomb attack blamed on Kurdish militants on Tuesday. |
The attack in eastern Igdir province came a day after suspected PKK bombs killed at least 16 Turkish soldiers in south-eastern Hakkari region. | |
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the PKK had suffered "serious damage" inside and outside of Turkey and was in a state of "panic". | President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the PKK had suffered "serious damage" inside and outside of Turkey and was in a state of "panic". |
"Turkish security forces crossed the Iraqi border as part of the hot pursuit of PKK terrorists who were involved in the most recent attacks," a government source told AFP news agency. | "Turkish security forces crossed the Iraqi border as part of the hot pursuit of PKK terrorists who were involved in the most recent attacks," a government source told AFP news agency. |
"This is a short-term measure intended to prevent the terrorists' escape." | "This is a short-term measure intended to prevent the terrorists' escape." |
Turkey's Dogan news agency said two special forces units, supported by warplanes, had attacked two groups of militants. | |
At least 35 rebels were killed in air raids on bases at Qandil, Basyan, Avashin and Zap early on Tuesday, according to Anadolu news agency. | |
Spiral of attacks - by Selin Girit, BBC News, Istanbul | Spiral of attacks - by Selin Girit, BBC News, Istanbul |
Not a day passes by in Turkey these days without violence. And as one attack follows another, emotions are running high. | Not a day passes by in Turkey these days without violence. And as one attack follows another, emotions are running high. |
The funerals of 16 soldiers killed in Sunday's PKK attack were taking place on Tuesday. | The funerals of 16 soldiers killed in Sunday's PKK attack were taking place on Tuesday. |
Several thousand people have protested in cities across Turkey against PKK violence and the offices of the pro-Kurdish HDP party have come under attack. | |
There is now serious concern that the violence could spiral out of control. | There is now serious concern that the violence could spiral out of control. |
Turkey is gearing up for snap elections on 1 November after the ruling AK Party lost its overall majority in June elections and failed to form a coalition government. | Turkey is gearing up for snap elections on 1 November after the ruling AK Party lost its overall majority in June elections and failed to form a coalition government. |
It was the HDP that deprived the AKP of its majority, polling over 13% of the vote and entering parliament as a political party for the first time. | It was the HDP that deprived the AKP of its majority, polling over 13% of the vote and entering parliament as a political party for the first time. |
Opposition figures have voiced concerns about maintaining election security, especially in Turkey's predominantly Kurdish east and south-east. | |
Turks question explosion in tensions with PKK | Turks question explosion in tensions with PKK |
The surge in violence follows the collapse of a ceasefire in July between the army and the PKK. | The surge in violence follows the collapse of a ceasefire in July between the army and the PKK. |
The truce, which began in 2013, unravelled after a suicide bombing by suspected Islamic State militants near the border with Syria led to mutual recriminations between Kurdish groups and Turkey. | The truce, which began in 2013, unravelled after a suicide bombing by suspected Islamic State militants near the border with Syria led to mutual recriminations between Kurdish groups and Turkey. |
More than 40,000 people have died since the PKK launched its armed campaign in 1984, calling for an independent Kurdish state within Turkey. | More than 40,000 people have died since the PKK launched its armed campaign in 1984, calling for an independent Kurdish state within Turkey. |
In Sunday's attack, the PKK detonated bombs near two military vehicles in the village of Daglica, close to the border with Iraq. | |
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu responded by pledging to "wipe out" rebel strongholds. | Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu responded by pledging to "wipe out" rebel strongholds. |
"Those mountains will be cleared of these terrorists. Whatever it takes, they will be cleared," he said. | "Those mountains will be cleared of these terrorists. Whatever it takes, they will be cleared," he said. |
Then on Tuesday, PKK fighters targeted a police minibus as it was heading towards a border post close to the Azerbaijan-run enclave of Nakhchivan, reports said. | Then on Tuesday, PKK fighters targeted a police minibus as it was heading towards a border post close to the Azerbaijan-run enclave of Nakhchivan, reports said. |
Hours later, a policeman was shot dead when suspected PKK militants opened fire on his car in the eastern state of Kunceli. | Hours later, a policeman was shot dead when suspected PKK militants opened fire on his car in the eastern state of Kunceli. |
In a defiant speech in Ankara on Tuesday, Mr Erdogan promised that "with God's permission, Turkey, which has overcome plenty of crises, will get over the plague of terror". | |
Critics accuse President Erdogan of renewing violence to curb support for the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP), whose 14% share of the vote in June elections cost the governing AKP its parliamentary majority. | |
The government denies the accusations. | |