Iraq

Turkey Sends 10,000 Troops to Iraq to Counter Kurdish Rebels

On Thursday, October 20, 2011, Turkey sent 10,000 elite troops to commence a major offensive operation against Kurdish rebels in Iraq. Turkey is retaliating after the Kurds attacked 42 Turkish soldiers, killing 24 and injuring 18. The raids were executed near the Turkey-Iran border Wednesday. This demonstration of power is the largest offensive operation Turkey has engaged in since 2008; when they invaded Iraq and held a week long attack on the Iraqi mountains.

The decision to send 10,000 elite Turkish troops over the Iraqi border is a straight demonstration of power. The Kurdish rebels in Iraq represent a smaller group, and killing Turkish troops has seriously angered the state of Turkey. The 10,000 troops who will cross the Iraqi border are some of Turkey’s finest, trained in special operations and guerrilla warfare. Turkey intends to send a strong and dominate message to the Kurds that they will not allow the series of raids to continue, especially along the border. This operation will most likely be violent and brutal, with both sides hoping to demonstrate power against each other.

Realist

http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/turkey-commences-massive-operation-against-kurdish-rebels-in-iraq-1.391088

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15390006

October 20, 2011 at 8:27 pm