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Turkish warplanes hit Kurdish rebels as tensions stoked by Islamic State fight Turkish warplanes hit Kurdish rebels as tensions stoked by Islamic State fight
(about 7 hours later)
SANLIURFA, Turkey — Turkish warplanes have carried out airstrikes against an outlawed Kurdish group for the first time since a 2013 cease-fire, reports said Tuesday, in attacks that underscored the regional political spillover from battles against the Islamic State.SANLIURFA, Turkey — Turkish warplanes have carried out airstrikes against an outlawed Kurdish group for the first time since a 2013 cease-fire, reports said Tuesday, in attacks that underscored the regional political spillover from battles against the Islamic State.
The bombardment targeting the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, risked further inflaming tensions with the country’s Kurdish population, which has protested Turkey’s refusal to help Kurdish Syrian fighters trying to hold back Islamic State fighters just across the border in the town of Kobane.The bombardment targeting the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, risked further inflaming tensions with the country’s Kurdish population, which has protested Turkey’s refusal to help Kurdish Syrian fighters trying to hold back Islamic State fighters just across the border in the town of Kobane.
Clashes last week between Turkish security forces and Kurdish demonstrators left more than 30 people dead. It also highlighted the internal pressures complicating Washington’s efforts to persuade Turkey to expand its role within the international coalition confronting the Islamic State. Clashes last week between Turkish security forces and Kurdish demonstrators left more than 30 people dead. It also highlighted the internal pressures complicating Washington’s efforts to persuade Turkey to expand its role within the international coalition confronting the Islamic State, a radical and heavily armed Islamist group also known as ISIS or ISIL.
NATO-member Turkey is expected at a meeting of military envoys Tuesday outside Washington to discuss strategies against the Islamic State. Separately, U.S. and Saudi warplanes carried out 22 airstrikes Monday and Tuesday against Islamic State targets in Syria, and U.S. attack aircraft conducted one strike in Iraq against the militants, the U.S. Central Command said.
The unusually large number of airstrikes in Syria focused on Islamic State positions near Kobane, and the Central Command reported indications that the strikes “have slowed ISIL advances.” It said one strike near Deir al-Zour in eastern Syria hit a modular oil refinery, one of the Islamic State’s key sources of cash.
“These airstrikes are designed to interdict ISIL reinforcements and resupply and prevent ISIL from massing combat power on the Kurdish-held portions” of Kobane, the Central Command said.
Turkey, a NATO member, is participating in a meeting of military envoys Tuesday outside Washington to discuss strategies against the Islamic State.
The PKK led a nearly 30-year uprising for greater rights in Turkey’s Kurdish-dominated southeast before a cease-fire plan was announced last year. The PKK remains designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and Turkey, and the Kurdish militia in Kobane is an affiliate of the PKK — part of a web of Kurdish factions stretching across Syria, Turkey, Iraq and Iran.The PKK led a nearly 30-year uprising for greater rights in Turkey’s Kurdish-dominated southeast before a cease-fire plan was announced last year. The PKK remains designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and Turkey, and the Kurdish militia in Kobane is an affiliate of the PKK — part of a web of Kurdish factions stretching across Syria, Turkey, Iraq and Iran.
Turkey’s Hurriyet Daily News said the overnight airstrikes hit the southeastern town of Daglica — near Turkey’s borders with Iran and Iraq — after Kurdish rebels launched an attack against a military barracks nearby.Turkey’s Hurriyet Daily News said the overnight airstrikes hit the southeastern town of Daglica — near Turkey’s borders with Iran and Iraq — after Kurdish rebels launched an attack against a military barracks nearby.
The Firat news agency, which is close to the PKK, said airstrikes hit at least five locations , but also claimed that the Turkish military shelled PKK bases for three days.The Firat news agency, which is close to the PKK, said airstrikes hit at least five locations , but also claimed that the Turkish military shelled PKK bases for three days.
PKK fighters have started returning to Turkey from bases in northern Iraq, where they retrenched under terms of the cease-fire. PKK leaders have threatened to call off the peace process if Kobane falls into the hands of the extremists.PKK fighters have started returning to Turkey from bases in northern Iraq, where they retrenched under terms of the cease-fire. PKK leaders have threatened to call off the peace process if Kobane falls into the hands of the extremists.
The Turkish air force action against the Kurdish militants came as U.S. warplanes kept up attacks against the Islamic State militants around Kobane, carrying out more airstrikes early Tuesday, according to witnesses.The Turkish air force action against the Kurdish militants came as U.S. warplanes kept up attacks against the Islamic State militants around Kobane, carrying out more airstrikes early Tuesday, according to witnesses.
The airstrikes helped Kurds regain some of the territory lost to the Islamic State in overnight fighting, Kurdish activists said.The airstrikes helped Kurds regain some of the territory lost to the Islamic State in overnight fighting, Kurdish activists said.
On Monday, Turkey denied that it had reached any “new agreement” with the United States to allow the use of the Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey for attacks on the Islamic State, despite suggestions from the Obama administration that a deal had been reached.On Monday, Turkey denied that it had reached any “new agreement” with the United States to allow the use of the Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey for attacks on the Islamic State, despite suggestions from the Obama administration that a deal had been reached.
A statement issued by the office of Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said talks are continuing between Ankara and Washington.A statement issued by the office of Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said talks are continuing between Ankara and Washington.
The Obama administration has been pressing Turkey to allow warplanes to use Incirlik, where the United States bases aircraft under existing NATO agreements.The Obama administration has been pressing Turkey to allow warplanes to use Incirlik, where the United States bases aircraft under existing NATO agreements.
U.S. officials said Sunday that Turkey had agreed to allow the coalition to use Turkish military bases for the fight against the Islamic State and to use Turkish territory as part of a training program for moderate Syrian ­opposition fighters.U.S. officials said Sunday that Turkey had agreed to allow the coalition to use Turkish military bases for the fight against the Islamic State and to use Turkish territory as part of a training program for moderate Syrian ­opposition fighters.
In a reflection of the sensitivity of the matter, U.S. officials on Monday were reluctant to further address or clarify the issue for fear of irritating the Turks.In a reflection of the sensitivity of the matter, U.S. officials on Monday were reluctant to further address or clarify the issue for fear of irritating the Turks.
Turkey has sent tanks and troops to the Syrian border, but has refused to send forces into Kobane. Turkey has set a series of demands for the international coalition battling the Islamic State, including creation of a border buffer zone in Syrian territory.Turkey has sent tanks and troops to the Syrian border, but has refused to send forces into Kobane. Turkey has set a series of demands for the international coalition battling the Islamic State, including creation of a border buffer zone in Syrian territory.
Up to 200,000 new refugees have fled into Turkey in recent weeks from Kobane. They joined more than 1.5 million Syrian refugees who sought haven in Turkey from Syria’s other crisis: An ongoing civil war between rebels and the government of President Bashar al-Assad.Up to 200,000 new refugees have fled into Turkey in recent weeks from Kobane. They joined more than 1.5 million Syrian refugees who sought haven in Turkey from Syria’s other crisis: An ongoing civil war between rebels and the government of President Bashar al-Assad.
liz.sly@washpost.comliz.sly@washpost.com
Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report. Brian Murphy and William Branigin in Washington contributed to this report.