’I feel that we will die’: Civilians fearful as Turks move into Iraq

[Barrett808]

Source: Associated Press

AMADIYA, Iraq - Turkey says it is not targeting civilians as it chases after separatist rebels in northern Iraq, but people in Iraq’s semiautonomous Kurdish region say they have lived in fear since the incursion began.

Some residents of this area 18 miles from the Iraq-Turkey border thought they’d escaped to a safe haven, having abandoned homes closer to the border to avoid skirmishes between the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, and Turkish troops.

But with the Turks mounting their first confirmed ground operation in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, some say they are fearful of getting caught in the deadly crossfire.

Already, the Turkish military says it has killed 153 rebels since fighting began last Thursday. Turks fired barrage after barrage of artillery shells at rebels Monday, and its military said it had hit some 30 targets in the last 24 hours. The Turks have put their own death toll at 17; a funeral service for three troops was held Monday.

"Whenever the children hear the military operations, they feel frightened," said school headmaster Aoni Mashaghti. "Most of the women came to school to take their kids out. Whenever they hear any sound of bombardment, the school becomes empty."

Read more: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/international/middle_east/view.bg?articleid=1075864

[Karenina]

1. . .

[sakabatou]

2. O_O

Jeez more fighting...

At least it's not these Turks:



:yoiks:

[Winterblues]

3. Unless they are uniformed soldiers they are all civilians

Just because they have different politics doesn't make them military. What is going on is a civilian slaughter on the same level as what the USA is undertaking.I guess the only good Iraqi is a dead Iraqi..

[comradebillyboy]

5. the PKK are terrorists who

blow up bombs in Turkey and then hide in Iraqi Kurdistan. The Iraqis wont stop the PKK raids into Turkey and the US military is giving the Turks tons of intelligence on the whereabouts of the PKK and has given Turkey the green light to do this. Recall Turkey is a very important ally. They opposed our invasion of Iraq. They kind of blame the US for allowing the PKK to hide in territory the US controls. US had to give in to the Turks since so much logistical support to the US in Iraq comes through Turkey. Also about 90% of Iraqi Kurdistans commerce is with Turkey, all their other neighbors, the Iranians, the Sunni Arabs and the Shia Arabs hate the Kurds.

I vacationed in Turkey last summer. Shortly after my return PKK set off bombs in the Mediterranean city of Antalia which my wife and I had visited. If you want more in-depth and expert analysis on this read Juan Cole's "Informed Comment" blog at http://www.juancole.com/

[Joey Liberal]

4. This proves that Iraq is out of control n/t

[comradebillyboy]

6. Iraq has been out of control ever since

the US invasion.