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Fighting intensified Sunday between Turkish troops and PKK members holed up in the Hakurk region in the rugged mountains of Iraq along the Turkish border, local security sources told AFP. Members of the Kurdish security force in northern Iraq reported hearing explosions and gunfire in and around Hakurk, a prominent PKK stronghold some 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the Turkish frontier. More than a dozen Turkish warplanes could be seen heading for the area. A pro-PKK news agency said about 5,000 Turkish soldiers and 60 tanks were advancing in the region of Haftanin near the border town of Zaho, west of Hakurk.
Turkish F-16 jets buzzed over the small Turkish hilltop town of Cukurca on Sunday as elite commandos chased PKK members across the border in northern Iraq in a major ground operation, AP reported. Armored personnel carriers transported troops in full combat gear and four long-range guns were positioned at the edge of a helicopter base in the border town, where at least four attack helicopter gunships were stationed. The base in Cukurca is one of the main support centers for the Turkish operation across the border, which began Thursday.           Â
Turkish General Staff said on Saturday that many locations and weapons belonging to the terrorists, including heavy anti-aircraft weapons, were destroyed, "35 terrorists were rendered ineffective during ongoing operations." According to a statement released by General Staff, it was stated that, "a significant amount of remote controlled explosives and land mines were also destroyed."Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Turkish General Staff released on Sunday the latest pictures of the ongoing ground operation on its website. The army has previously released pictures of the operation on the last three days. To view the pictures please click here. (Please note the website is in Turkish.)    Â
The Turkish parliament authorized the government in October to send troops to northern
Turkish television said between 3,000 and 10,000 soldiers had entered Iraq, but several Iraqi officials and a military source with U.S.-led coalition forces in Baghdad said only a few hundred troops were involved. The General Staff did not specify the size or length of the surprise operation, given the poor weather conditions.    Â
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Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has said on Friday he talked with U.S. President George W. bush as well as Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki regarding the cross-border operation, adding "This is the first time
In Canberra US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said on Sunday he hopes
Meanwhile Turkish Foreign Minister ali babacan talked to his British counterpart David Miliband on the phone about
The AA reported that upon the directives of Babacan, a circular has been sent to Turkey's all foreign diplomatic representations throughout the world. The circular assigned Turkish ambassadors to give necessary information to the related authorities in countries they have been working. The ambassadors are also charged to explain targets and goals of Turkey with the operations.
'A HELICOPTER SHOT DOWN'PKK claimed on Sunday they shot down a Turkish military helicopter during the fighting in northern
The same news agency also reported that a PKK "commander" urged Kurds living in