Turkish planes, copters attack rebels in Iraq

[unhappycamper]

Turkish planes, copters attack rebels in Iraq
By Volkan Sarisakal - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Oct 24, 2007 16:54:52 EDT

CIZRE, Turkey — Turkish warplanes and helicopter gunships reportedly attacked positions of Kurdish rebels Wednesday just inside Turkey along the border with Iraq, as Turkey’s military stepped up its anti-rebel operations.

Civilian and military leaders discussed the scope and duration of a possible cross-border offensive — a move that Turkey’s Western allies are trying to prevent.

An AP Television News cameraman saw attack helicopters and several F-16 warplanes loaded with bombs take off from an air base in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir. The warplanes and helicopter gunships bombed mountain paths used by rebels to infiltrate from neighboring Iraq, the official Anatolia news agency reported.

On Sunday, Turkish helicopter gunships penetrated Iraqi territory and troops have shelled suspected Kurdish rebel positions across the border in Iraq, a government official said Wednesday.

U.S.-made Cobra and Super Cobra attack helicopters chased Kurdish rebels three miles into Iraqi territory on Sunday but returned to their bases in Turkey after a rebel ambush killed 12 soldiers near the border, the official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

He also said Turkish artillery units shelled rebel positions as recently as Tuesday night but did not say which areas were targeted.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/10/ap_turkey_071024/