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Turkish troops enter north Iraq Turkish troops enter north Iraq
(40 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 in what seems to be their biggest operation against Kurdish rebels sheltering there in years.
The Turkish army, which has thousands of soldiers on the border, said troops had entered the north on Thursday evening and were pursuing rebels. Up to 10,000 troops may be involved in the operation which, according to the army, began on Thursday evening after an air and artillery bombardment.
It promised the force would "return home in the shortest time possible after its goals have been achieved". Turkey promised its force would "return home in the shortest time possible after its goals have been achieved".
The US military says it believes the operation is "of limited duration".The US military says it believes the operation is "of limited duration".
Turkey has promised to do everything possible to avoid "collateral damage to innocent civilians or Kurdish infrastructure," said Rear Adm Gregory Smith, a US spokesman in Iraq.Turkey has promised to do everything possible to avoid "collateral damage to innocent civilians or Kurdish infrastructure," said Rear Adm Gregory Smith, a US spokesman in Iraq.
But another US official quoted by Reuters news agency appeared to express concern about the scale of the Turkish operation.But another US official quoted by Reuters news agency appeared to express concern about the scale of the Turkish operation.
It was "not the greatest news" and marked "a whole new level", Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza said in BrusselsIt was "not the greatest news" and marked "a whole new level", Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza said in Brussels
'Unusual timing''Unusual timing'
An air and artillery campaign preceded the land operation, the military said. "A cross-border ground operation backed by the Air Force was launched at 1900 [1700 GMT on Thursday]," the military aid.
PKK fighters are known to use the northern Iraq as a basePKK fighters are known to use the northern Iraq as a base
"Following this successful offensive, a cross-border ground operation backed by the Air Force was launched at 1900 [1700 GMT]," it added.
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. The Turks made several major incursions against the PKK in northern Iraq in the years before the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
The military will not confirm the number of troops involved or the precise targets, the BBC's Sarah Rainsford reports from Istanbul. After Turkish broadcaster NTV reported that 10,000 soldiers had crossed the border on Thursday, a Turkish military source confirmed for Reuters news agency that two brigades had been deployed.
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. A brigade numbers up to 5,000 troops, the agency notes.
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, the BBC's Sarah Rainsford reports from Istanbul.
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'Baghdad 'unaware'
As news of the operation broke, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told the BBC he was not aware of any incursion since speaking to BBC correspondent Jim Muir late on Thursday.As news of the operation broke, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told the BBC he was not aware of any incursion since speaking to BBC correspondent Jim Muir late on Thursday.
The minister, himself a Kurd from northern Iraq, said he had been in touch with people in the north and in Istanbul, as well as being in close contact with the US.The minister, himself a Kurd from northern Iraq, said he had been in touch with people in the north and in Istanbul, as well as being in close contact with the US.
Rear Adm Smith said the US supported Turkey's "right to defend itself from the terrorist activities of the PKK" and encouraged it to "co-ordinate closely with the government of Iraq".Rear Adm Smith said the US supported Turkey's "right to defend itself from the terrorist activities of the PKK" and encouraged it to "co-ordinate closely with the government of Iraq".
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.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.The Turkish troops returned to base without shots being fired.
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