Special report: Turkey's incursion into Iraq

    by Li Bo

    BEIJING, Feb. 29 (Xinhua) -- Some 10,000 Turkish troops, backed by F-16 warplanes and Cobra attack helicopters, poured over the border with Iraq last Thursday in the first large-scale cross-border offensive since the Justice and Development Party came to power.

    Unlike previous similar operations that usually started in March or April, the timing of this year's offensive took many by surprise. Analysts believe the earlier operation was aimed to strike preemptively the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) rebels before they had a chance to infiltrate into Turkey from their hideouts where they reorganized themselves and found a refuge from the coldest winter in years.

    The preemptive strike had killed 230 Kurdish rebels in the past few days, and two dozen soldiers and three pro-government village guards also lost their lives.

Turkish tanks move near the southeastern Turkish town of Silopi, near the Iraqi border, Feb. 21, 2008. Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) has launched a cross-border ground operation in fight against the banned Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) in the north of Iraq.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    The PKK have disputed the figures, saying only a few PKK fighters and more than 80 Turkish soldiers have died.

    The toll on both sides could not be independently confirmed. But pressure on Turkey for prompt troop withdrawal was mounting.

    The United States has provided Turkey with real-time intelligence on rebel movements, but is deeply concerned that a long-term offensive might undermine Iraq's stability.