Original von BBC.com
'US backed' Turkish raids on Iraq
Turkish troops have been at the Iraq border since October
Turkey's air strikes against Kurdish rebels in Iraq on Sunday were approved by the United States in advance, the Turkish military says.
The country's top general, Yasar Buyukanit, said the US opened northern Iraqi airspace for the operation.
Jets targeted the Kurdish rebel PKK in areas near the border. The Turkish media said up to 50 planes were used.
Iraqi officials say bombs hit 10 villages, killing one woman, while the PKK reported seven deaths.
Iraq has summoned the Turkish ambassador in Baghdad and demanded a halt to the strikes.
But Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan hailed them a "success".
Turkey has regularly targeted the PKK inside Iraq in recent months, but this is thought to be the first fighter jet raid outside its own territory.
'No refuge'
General Buyukanit said the US "gave intelligence" that aided the operation.
"But what is more important is that the United States last night opened northern Iraqi airspace to us. By doing that, the United States approved the operation," he said.
He said winter conditions in the mountainous region would be no obstacle for the Turkish military.
"The Turkish armed forces have given the message to the Turkish public and the world that whether it is winter or summer, we will find and hit them even if they live in caves," he added.
Turkish planes hit the regions of Zap, Hakurk and Avasin as well as areas in the Kandil mountains in an operation lasting three hours, the Turkish military said. Artillery barrages followed.
It said only "terrorist" targets, and not civilians, were hit.
Local officials in northern Iraq spoke of families fleeing their homes.
Pro-Kurdish media initially reported the death of one woman and the wounding of five other civilians in a village near the Kandil mountains.
The PKK itself reportedly announced on an internet site that five of its fighters and two civilians had been killed in the mountain area, with two fighters wounded.
"Many civilians, among them women and children" were also wounded, the group was quoted as saying by AFP news agency.
There was no confirmation of the figures.
Troops massed
Ankara toughened its line against the PKK after a spate of rebel attacks inside Turkey that prompted widespread calls for action.
In October, Turkey's parliament voted to allow the military to launch operations into Iraq to combat the PKK, which had stepped up attacks in Turkey.
Ankara has massed up to 100,000 troops near the mountainous border with northern Iraq, backed by tanks, artillery and warplanes.
But Iraq and the US have urged Turkey not to carry out its threat.
As many as 3,000 PKK members are believed to be based inside northern Iraq. Turkey has accused the local Kurdish authorities of supporting them - which they deny.
Original von FAZ.net
„Amerika hat der Operation zugestimmt“
16. Dezember 2007 Die Angriffe der türkischen Luftwaffe im Nordirak sind offenbar von Amerika unterstützt worden. Die amtliche Nachrichtenagentur Anatolien zitierte den türkischen Generalstabschef Yasar Büyükanit mit den Worten: „Amerika hat vergangene Nacht den irakischen Luftraum für uns geöffnet. Mit der Öffnung des irakischen Luftraum für uns hat Amerika seine Zustimmung zu der Operation gegeben.“
Bis zu hundert Kilometer tief waren türkische Kampfflugzeuge in der Nacht in den Irak eingedrungen und hatten dort mutmaßliche Stellungen kurdischer Rebellen angegriffen. Die nächtlichen Angriffe hatten bis zu drei Stunden gedauert. Es war die größte türkische Luftoffensive gegen Stellungen der Kurdischen Arbeiterpartei (PKK) seit vielen Jahren. Nach Angaben irakischer Behörden wurden bei den Angriffen eine Frau getötet und zwei weitere Personen verwundet. Der türkische Ministerpräsident Recep Tayyip Erdogan sprach von einem Erfolg.
Bagdad bestellt türkischen Botschafter ein
Die türkischen Streitkräfte teilten auf ihrer Website mit, es seien Stellungen der PKK in der Grenzregion und in den Kandil-Bergen angegriffen worden, die bis zu hundert Kilometer von der Grenze entfernt liegen. In Kandil hat auch die Führung der PKK ihren Sitz.
Die irakische Regierung bestellte den türkischen Botschafter in Bagdad ein und forderte ein Ende der Luftangriffe. Der stellvertretende Außenminister Mohammed al-Hadsch Humud sagte, die Angriffe auf den Norden des Landes „könnten die friedlichen Beziehungen zwischen den beiden Staaten und Völkern belasten“.
Prokurdische Medien melden getroffene Schulen und ein Krankenhaus
Die prokurdische Nachrichtenagentur Firat berichtete unter Berufung auf die PKK, bei den Bombenangriffen seien zwei Zivilpersonen und fünf PKK-Kämpfer getötet worden. Unter anderem seien zwei Schulen und ein Krankenhaus getroffen worden. Das Krankenhaus sei aber in Erwartung eines türkischen Angriffs evakuiert worden.
Irakischen Berichten zufolge wurden insgesamt zehn Dörfer angegriffen. Ein Sprecher räumte ein, es gebe in der Region Stellungen der PKK. Sie seien aber weit entfernt von den Dörfern, die angegriffen wurden. Türkischen Medienberichten zufolge soll bei dem Angriff auch ein PKK-Kommandozentrum getroffen worden sein. Meldungen aus der Region legten in der vergangenen Woche aber die Vermutung nahe, dass die PKK den Angriff erwartet hatte. Ihre Kämpfer sollen sich vorher aus Lagern in diesen Gebieten in andere Regionen begeben haben.
Erster offiziell bestätigter Angriff seit der amerikanischen Invasion 2003
Alle an den Angriffen beteiligten Maschinen seien sicher zu ihren Stützpunkten zurückgekehrt, teilten die Streitkräfte mit. Der türkische Fernsehsender NTV berichtete, an dem Angriff seien 50 Maschine beteiligt gewesen. Das Heer beschieße Stellungen der PKK weiterhin mit weitreichenden Waffen, hieß es. Die private Nachrichtenagentur Dogan meldete, Artillerie feuere aus der Stadt Cukurca, die an der Grenze der Türkei zum Irak und zum Iran liegt, in den Irak.
Es war der erste offiziell bestätigte türkische Angriff mit Kampfflugzeugen im Irak seit der amerikanischen Invasion im Irak 2003. Zuvor hatten türkische Truppen schon wiederholt vermutete PKK-Stellungen im Irak mit Artillerie oder auch mit Hubschraubern angegriffen. Wegen des winterlichen Wetters sind Bodenangriffe oder Hubschraubereinsätze derzeit aber kaum möglich.
Die Türkei hatte ihre Offensive gegen die Rebellen intensiviert, nachdem diese bei Angriffen in der Türkei etliche Soldaten getötet hatten. Zehntausende Soldaten wurden an der Grenze zusammengezogen. Das türkische Parlament billigte im Oktober grenzüberschreitende Angriffe auf die PKK. Amerika hat die Türkei aber davor gewarnt. Die Vereinigten Staaten befürchten, dass der ansonsten relativ ruhige Norden des Iraks destabilisiert werden könnte.
Meinungen? Persönlich muss ich sagen, obwohl ich mich mit Türkischer Politik nicht anfreunden kann, dass diese Angriffe berechtigt waren/sind. Und wenn die USA als vorherrschende Besatzungsmacht den Luftraum freigegeben hatten sowieso.
Natürlich kann man sich hier nie sicher sein, dass die Informationen der Wahrheit entsprechen, aber falls die PKK wirklich eine derartige Bedrohung darstellt und die türkischen Truppen gezielt gegen Lager der PKK vorgegangen sind, halte ich dies für mehr als gerechtfertigt.
[E]: Hatte vergessen den Artikel noch zu verlinken:
Original von BBC.com
Soldiers stood and saluted as the flight took off, carrying the latest casualty in weeks of intensified clashes with the Kurdish separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
Almost every day now the newspapers here are full of the soldiers' life stories and pictures of their funerals. Many of those dying are young conscripts.
These casualties - and the deaths of 12 soldiers and capture of eight more in one PKK ambush in particular - are fuelling anger and frustration in Turkey.
There is a sense that Turkey is battling alone against the PKK - a group that the US and EU both label as "terrorist".
Ankara argues that the mountains of northern Iraq have become the PKK's safe haven and command centre.
"Something has to be done!" has become almost a catchphrase here now, from sober commentators to furious protesters on the streets.
Government under scrutiny
"The public's patience is really running out," says Radikal newspaper columnist Haluk Sahin. He describes himself as pessimistic about what comes next.
Last month, the Turkish parliament authorised the government to order cross-border military operations, if required.
"The Turkish government is clearly reluctant to use force in northern Iraq, but it's under tremendous pressure to come up with something. We have seen empty promises for such a long time," he says.
Turkey has complained for months about PKK bases inside northern Iraq and what it sees as a US and Iraqi failure to act against them.
With tension now so high, all attention is focused on Friday's visit by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Ankara and the meeting between Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President George Bush in Washington that follows on Monday.
"I will tell him (Bush) that we expect immediate concrete steps against the terrorists," Mr Erdogan said this week. "The problem of the PKK is a sincerity test for everyone. It is important to determine the fate of our future relations."
On Wednesday, a Pentagon spokesman said the US was now giving Turkey more intelligence on PKK positions inside Iraq. But commentators here feel Prime Minister Erdogan will have to emerge from his talks with President Bush with more than that - and most are sceptical.
"If the US does not provide an acceptable solution to this crisis, then the Turkish government cannot afford to stand still," says columnist Mehmet Ali Kislali.
"The Turkish population expects the government to teach the PKK a lesson. Everyone knows the PKK will not be wiped out with military action. But the overriding feeling is that something has to be done to prove that Turkey will not hesitate in such a situation," explains Mr Kislali.
Targeted strikes
Turkey has been massing troops on the Iraqi border since Spring. Some reports suggest up to 100,000 soldiers are now in the region. But the consensus remains that Turkey would prefer to avoid a major ground offensive.
"Creating a buffer zone across the border would need a large number of soldiers. Targeted operations can be repeated many times and need much less - say, 50 special forces soldiers, two planes, two attack helicopters," says retired Maj-Gen Armagan Kuloglu.
Turkish soldiers block a road near the town of Yuksekova, 31 October 2007
"It is impossible to stop the PKK this way - the target is to reduce their activities. If our aircraft bomb according to intelligence they can destroy some logistics bases and provide a morale boost to Turkish public opinion. That will also put pressure on the PKK, the Iraqi Kurds and even the US," he explains.
The onset of winter would make any ground incursion more difficult; more doveish Turks hope it will also subdue PKK attacks, thereby easing pressure on the government.
But it appears preparations for possible large-scale operations are under way.
Shortly after parliament voted to authorise possible military action, the health ministry distributed a circular to state medical facilities warning them to prepare to send doctors to southeastern Turkey or northern Iraq if required.
There have been 24 cross-border operations into Iraq before. The head of the Ankara Doctors' Union describes such a circular as "unusual".
Belligerent mood
Ahead of the Erdogan-Bush meeting Turkey does appear to be holding fire, both on major military action and fully-fledged economic sanctions.
But Ankara has been talking tough for so long, many here feel it is time for action.
Nationalist feeling is running at fever pitch. Turkish flags - already prominent - now adorn most buildings, many cars and businesses.
This weekend left-wing trade unionists and rights groups will demonstrate in Ankara against military action.
"I think the US will find a way to calm the public here, to convince the government that America will act to help us," one man who will travel from Istanbul for the protest told the BBC.
But the demonstration he is heading for is likely to be small.
Any military action in northern Iraq would inevitably mean more Turkish soldiers die, not fewer. That fact seems no deterrent though.
"As the losses here increase, so does the demand for counter-action - for a strong response," explains Mehmet Ali Kislali.
At the mass funeral of one soldier this week his widow told her two young sons not to cry - and to hold their Turkish flags up higher.
. wenn dann wird es auf den oft alevitischen glauben geschoben und horrormärchen die über die aleviten erzählt und (un)lustigerweise geglaubt werden. (von den großeltern an die kinder und die glauben es dann oft ihr leben lang, die ältesten sind halt die weisesten!). 
sry, das war das adrenalin, vllt. auch müdigkeit etc. 
)