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Iraq-Jordan
Fighting Flares, Iraq Invasion Threatened
2005-08-01
August 1, 2005: Turkish security forces reported the five Kurd insurgents died in a firefight on July 23. The battle took place in Sirnak Province. The same Turkish report also said that ten PKK rebels had died in a firefight that occurred in Sirnak on July 16. Initial reports said that "several" rebels had died in that fight but gave no firm figure. Ten PKK guerrillas killed in one battle inside Turkey is a large death toll. That suggests the Turkish military or security troops ambushed a rebel group infiltrating across the border. Meanwhile, on July 24 the Turkish government said it has "the right" to attack PKK guerrillas inside Iraqi territory "if the Iraqi and U.S. sides do not fulfill their responsibilities." Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari disagreed, saying that Turkish incursions would have a "de-stabilizing effect." Iraq, however, acknowledges that Turkey has a legitimate interest. Zebari added: "We have an obligation to Turkey and to control all non-Iraqi armed groups and prevent them from activities against neighboring countries."

Meanwhile, over in Iran, Iranian Kurds are once again restive. On July 30, 300 Iranian Kurds staged a major protest in Iran's Kurdistan Province. The demonstrators were protesting the arrest, torture, and murder of a Kurd by Iran's State Security Forces in mid-July. The young Kurdish man was arrested in Iran's West Azerbaijan province. Since the arrest, there have been several small protests in Kurdish towns throughout northwestern Iraq. Iranian security forces fired on demonstrators in the town of Oshnavieh and killed three people.
Posted by:Steve

#5  Missing one actor to complete the RB Troll Troika Secret Mas.
Posted by: Shipman   2005-08-01 20:00  

#4  Kurds are pissed off and I doubt they'll cease being pissed off now that they've got a lil bit of legitimacy in the world.

There participation in Iraq's govt seems like a temporary stint till a kurdish nation emerges amongst Turkey, Iran and Kurdish controlled Iraq.

Traditional homelands die slowly if ever, and the ten year reposte we gave them to gather themselves under our air protection didn't hurt their cause.

Turks shouldn't count on any Iraqi assistance unless it comes in the form of some peshmerga revenge against select PKK targets, hbut in reality that has little to do with Turkey, it would just be a convenient excuse to off a few political enemies.

EP
Posted by: ElvisHasLeftTheBuilding   2005-08-01 17:28  

#3  Meanwhile, over in Iran, Iranian Kurds are once again restive.

Bad things, Shipman?
Posted by: Secret Master   2005-08-01 15:01  

#2  Ima recall Mucki said bad things come in threes.......
Posted by: Shipman   2005-08-01 13:55  

#1  Turkish troops remain in Iraq, as far as I can tell, just as they did before Saddam fell. The Turks have defacto occupied several stretches of border and maintained special ops units in several northern Iraqi cities.
Posted by: Chuck Simmins   2005-08-01 10:08  

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