SIRNAK, Turkey — Turkish warplanes and helicopter gunships attacked suspected positions of Kurdish rebels near Iraq on Wednesday, a possible prelude to a cross-border operation that would likely raise tensions with Washington.
The military offensive also reportedly included shelling of Turkish Kurd guerrilla hideouts in northern Iraq, which is predominantly Kurdish. U.S. officials are already preoccupied with efforts to stabilize other areas of Iraq and oppose Turkish intervention in the relatively peaceful north.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said preparations were under way for parliamentary authorization of a cross-border operation, and told CNN-Turk TV that the motion might reach Parliament today. The preparations “have started and are continuing,” he said. An opposition party said it would support the proposal.
If Parliament approves, the military could choose to launch an operation immediately or wait to see if the United States and its allies decide to crack down on the rebels, who have been fighting for autonomy in southeast Turkey since 1984 in a conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives.
“If you’re against (the rebels), make your attitude clear and do whatever is necessary,” Erdogan said in comments directed at Washington. “If you cannot do it, then let us do it.”
An Iraqi government spokesman said a Turkish military incursion would be regarded as a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty.
“We are aware of the size of the threat Turkey is subjected to, but this does not give Turkey the right to enter Iraqi territories,” said Ali al-Dabbagh.
Turkey has conducted two dozen large-scale incursions into Iraq since the late 1980s. The last such operation, in 1997, involved tens of thousands of troops.
The latest Turkish military activity followed attacks by rebels that have killed 15 soldiers since Sunday.
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