Turkey plans to launch a military campaign in northern Iraq this summer to secure a road-rail project to the Gulf by pushing the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) south. The operation aims to reinforce Turkey's military outposts and prevent further PKK attacks, which have resulted in the loss of dozens of Turkish soldiers since late last year. The campaign has sparked domestic controversy and scrutiny over Turkey's tactics. Sources indicate that Iran is influencing Baghdad against Turkey regarding the PKK. In response, Turkey is erecting barriers at its borders and has seen its rhetoric harden, particularly towards the Iraqi Kurdish Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Party, which controls Sulaimaniyah province. Improved weather conditions in spring are expected to facilitate the military incursion. Meanwhile, Iraq has banned the PKK as security ties with Turkey strengthen, marking a turning point in their cooperation against Kurdish militants, as highlighted by Nuh Yilmaz. A landmark security deal between Turkey and Iraq aims to crack down on PKK militants in the region.
Turkey and Iraq reached a landmark security deal to crack down on Kurdish militants holed up in the mountains of northern Iraq https://t.co/5ppdzkty7z via @SelcanHacaoglu
Turkey and Iraq reached a landmark security deal to crack down on Kurdish militants holed up in the mountains of northern Iraq https://t.co/KK2kQMQFGs
A Turkish official says Iraq for the first time decided to jointly fight PKK with Turkey during the negotiations last night https://t.co/UXRYjH57yb
Iraq bans PKK as security ties with Turkey gain momentum Fidan's chief advisor Nuh Yilmaz hailed the move as a "turning point" https://t.co/Xk4Lvybakt
Iraq bans #PKK as security ties with #Turkey gain momentum https://t.co/dOvc7vvvIs
"Analysts believe that improved weather conditions in spring may allow the #Turkish military to launch a limited incursion in the region with harsh terrain in a bid to reinforce its military outposts and prevent further attacks" By @ezgi_akin https://t.co/DPXY61RNFa
Turkey erecting barrier at its borders against PKK terrorist violence #terrorism https://t.co/HKOvRomAbY
"The hardening rhetoric is also aimed at piling pressure on the Iraqi Kurdish Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Party, which controls the northern Iraqi province of Sulaimaniyah" By @ezgi_akin https://t.co/cg7LPyq6b2
"Iran is now carrying out a policy against Turkey to influence Baghdad vis-a-vis the PKK" - source https://t.co/PkO7B9ReDC
Since late last year, Turkey has lost dozens of soldiers to PKK attacks on Turkish outposts in northern Iraq’s mountainous terrain. Those deaths have triggered a domestic controversy and scrutiny of the effectiveness of Turkey’s tactics https://t.co/NYnLQVieT1
Turkey intends to use a military assault in northern Iraq this summer to push the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) south and secure a new trade route, sources familiar with the plans told MEE https://t.co/yK4l2AbHXO
Turkey to launch Iraq military campaign to secure road-rail project to Gulf https://t.co/yK4l2AbHXO