December 18, 2007

Turkish Troops Withdraw From Iraq

Turkish troops who crossed into Iraq early this morning have pulled out, Reuters is reporting.

It is not yet clear why the 300 or so troops would withdraw so quickly, but this week's airstrikes on suspected Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) hideouts have outraged Iraqis. The Washington Post reported this morning that the airstrikes on the Kurdish separatist group, considered a terrorist organization by the U.S., were carried out with the Pentagon's assistance.

The incursion came and went as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice toured Kirkuk and Baghdad to apply pressure toward political reconciliation. Kurdish regional President Massoud Barzani refused to meet with Rice because of the Turkish assaults, BBC News reports.

Posted at 11:42 AM
Posted to: Bush Administration, Condoleezza Rice, Iraq, Kurds, Middle East
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