TURKEY THREATENS PKK IN IRAQ WITH MILITARY ACTIONS

A Turkish military column is en route to Al-Eis

On March 28, the Turkish National Security Council warned during a meeting, which was headed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, that Turkey will “take action” if Iraq failes to halt activities of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in its territory, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

This threat came only two days after the withdrawal of the PKK from the area of Sinjar in northern Iraq. This allow some experts to suggest that fighting the PKK is not the only goal of Turkey in northern Iraq.

In response, Abbas al-Bayati, a member of Iraq’s State of Law political coalition, warned Turkey from violating Iraq’s sovereignty under any pretext.

“Turkey cannot cross into Iraqi territories as our country enjoys sovereignty and independence,” al-Bayati said during an interview with the Iraqi news agency Baghdad Today.

Turkey appears to be more than willing to intervene in northern Iraq, even if the PKK fully withdrawa from all of its positions there. Iraqi pro-government activists argue that Turkey’s main goal is to establish a foothold for its army in northern Iraq, like it has done in Syria over the last three years.

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