Turkey strikes against Kurds

Press, 28 May 1983, Page 9

Turkey strikes against Kurds

NZPA-Reuter Ankara Two Turkish Army brigades thrust about 30km into Iraq yesterday, apparently against Kurdish militants. Official sources in Ankara, the Turkish capital, said that the two brigades, more than 2000 men, had moved into the remote, mountainous area along the Turkish-Iraqi border over the last few days. They did not state the purpose or extent of the thrust, but it appeared to be against Kurdish guerrillas who have launched attacks from the region against both countries. Some sources said that

the Iraqi authorities were aware of the move by Turkey, but that was not confirmed.

Neither was there any formal Government confirmation of the operation in Ankara. Foreign Ministry spokesmen said only that Turkish troops had been on exercise in the area in recent days.

An Iraqi Embassy spokesman said that he had no knowledge of the advance.

The 250 km frontier dividing Turkey and Iraq lies deep in a Kurdish-populated area. People familiar with the area say that smugglers and militants frequently cross the border undetected. On May 10 three Turkish

soldiers were killed and three wounded by gunmen, widely believed here to have been Kurds firing from the Iraqi side of the border. Turkish truck drivers have also frequently been attacked by Kurdish gunmen in northern Iraq. Western diplomats in Ankara note that Turkey’s relations with Iraq have been strong recently and any military move made against Iraq or without Bagdad’s knowledge could jeopardise valuable ties.

Iraq was Turkey’s third largest export market last year after Iran and West Germany, while Turkey buys much of its oil needs from Iraq.