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Turkish troops enter north Iraq Turkish troops enter north Iraq
(31 minutes later)
Turkish forces have crossed into Iraq to launch an operation against Kurdish rebels said to be sheltering there, the Turkish military says.Turkish forces have crossed into Iraq to launch an operation against Kurdish rebels said to be sheltering there, the Turkish military says.
The Turkish army, which has thousands of soldiers on the border, said troops had entered the north on Thursday evening and were pursuing rebels.The Turkish army, which has thousands of soldiers on the border, said troops had entered the north on Thursday evening and were pursuing rebels.
It promised the force would "return home in the shortest time possible after its goals have been achieved".It promised the force would "return home in the shortest time possible after its goals have been achieved".
Iraq's foreign minister told the BBC he was not aware of a major incursion.Iraq's foreign minister told the BBC he was not aware of a major incursion.
Hoshyar Zebari, himself a Kurd from northern Iraq, said he was not aware of any development since speaking to BBC correspondent Jim Muir late on Thursday. A US official quoted by Reuters news agency appeared to express concern about the scale of the Turkish operation.
He said he had been in touch with people in the north and in Istanbul, as well as being in close contact with the US. It was "not the greatest news" and marked "a whole new level", Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza said in Brussels
On Thursday, there was a tense stand-off between Kurdish Peshmerga forces and Turkish troops who had advanced out of the two fixed bases they have inside northern Iraq, our correspondent adds.
The Turkish troops returned to base without shots being fired.
'Unusual timing''Unusual timing'
An air and artillery campaign preceded the land operation, the military said.An air and artillery campaign preceded the land operation, the military said.
PKK fighters are known to use the northern Iraq as a base
Suspected camps of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants were targeted between 1000 (0800 GMT) and 1800 (1600 GMT) on Thursday, according to a statement on the general staff website.Suspected camps of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants were targeted between 1000 (0800 GMT) and 1800 (1600 GMT) on Thursday, according to a statement on the general staff website.
"Following this successful offensive, a cross-border ground operation backed by the Air Force was launched at 1900 [1700 GMT]," said the statement."Following this successful offensive, a cross-border ground operation backed by the Air Force was launched at 1900 [1700 GMT]," said the statement.
Turkey has carried out at least one, smaller ground incursion, as well as frequent air and artillery strikes, against suspected PKK targets in Iraq since parliament authorised the army to act in October 2007.Turkey has carried out at least one, smaller ground incursion, as well as frequent air and artillery strikes, against suspected PKK targets in Iraq since parliament authorised the army to act in October 2007.
An unconfirmed report by Turkish TV channel NTV says 10,000 soldiers have crossed the border, Reuters news agency reports.An unconfirmed report by Turkish TV channel NTV says 10,000 soldiers have crossed the border, Reuters news agency reports.
The military will not confirm the number of troops involved or the precise targets, but there have been reports in recent days of reinforcements being sent to the border, the BBC's Sarah Rainsford reports from Istanbul.The military will not confirm the number of troops involved or the precise targets, but there have been reports in recent days of reinforcements being sent to the border, the BBC's Sarah Rainsford reports from Istanbul.
The operation's timing is unusual as the mountainous border area is still covered with heavy snow and there have been no major PKK attacks inside Turkey for some time, our correspondent adds.The operation's timing is unusual as the mountainous border area is still covered with heavy snow and there have been no major PKK attacks inside Turkey for some time, our correspondent adds.
More than 30,000 people have been killed since the PKK began fighting for a Kurdish homeland in south-eastern Turkey in 1984.More than 30,000 people have been killed since the PKK began fighting for a Kurdish homeland in south-eastern Turkey in 1984.
Baghdad 'unaware'
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, himself a Kurd from northern Iraq, said he was not aware of any development since speaking to BBC correspondent Jim Muir late on Thursday.
He said he had been in touch with people in the north and in Istanbul, as well as being in close contact with the US.
On Thursday, there was a tense stand-off between Kurdish Peshmerga forces and Turkish troops who had advanced out of the two fixed bases they have inside northern Iraq, our correspondent adds.
The Turkish troops returned to base without shots being fired.
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