Turkey mulls land operation vs PKK, Barzani vows not to remain silent (UPDATED)

Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said a ground cross-border operation against the PKK is on the table, while the Iraqi Kurdish leader threatened Turkey on Tuesday, saying they will not "remain silent" against the operations.

"The option of a ground operation is on the table. The timing (of such an operation) and weather conditions are important," Babacan told reports on his way to Moscow, where he is due for an official visit, according to the CNN Turk.

Turkey has massed tens of thousands of troops along its mountainous frontier with Iraq. It has already carried out in recent months small-scale cross-border commando operations as well as aerial bombing raids PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by the EU and the US.

Massoud Barzani, the leader of the regional Kurdish administration in the Northern Iraq, threatened Turkey on Tuesday, saying they will not remain “silent” to Turkish army’s air operations in the region.    �

"It is very unnecessary for us to ask the Iraqi government 'to do something against Turkey’s attacks'... I am declaring that if Turkey's attacks on the Federal Kurdistan's territory continue, we will not remain silent", Barzani told the al Arabiya television.                                   �

Babacan urged Barzani to declare the PKK as a terrorist organization. "Barzani should declare the PKK as terrorist organization. He should take concrete and assuring steps" he said.

'TURKISH PLANES FLY OVER N. IRAQ'

The PUKmedia website, which belongs to the Iraqi President Jalal Talabani's party Kurdistan Patriots Union, reported Turkish warplanes have flown over the northern Iraq on Tuesday. The Turkish warplanes entered the airspace at GMT 10:00 am, said PUKmedia quoting an anonymous source.