Kurdish Militants news stories on Newser

Bombing Strikes Iranian Parade, Kills 10

Kevin Spak — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 04:30:00 CDT

A bomb struck a military parade in Iran today, killing 10 and wounding 57, most of them women and children, according to the provincial governor. On the state-run Press TV, authorities blamed the attack on “terrorists” who opposed the 1979 Islamic revolution, and who “have always carried out such brutal...

Turkey Bombs Rebels in Iraqi Mountains

Kevin Spak — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 15:28:19 CST

Fighting continued in semiautonomous Kurdistan today as Turkey’s air and artillery forces let loose a hail of bombs in the mountains of northern Iraq, the AP reports. The strikes are ratcheting up tension between Turkey and the US-backed Iraqi government: Iraq’s foreign minister today told Turkey to get out “as...

Rebel Kurds Free Turkish Soldiers

Sam Gale Rosen — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 16:53:50 CST

Kurds freed eight Turkish soldiers today, a move that may cut the odds of a Turkish invasion into northern Iraq, Reuters reports. But Turkey still wants Kurdish rebels arrested and training camps shut down. Britain's defense secretary called the release "a significant move," but added, "We need to see concrete...

Baghdad Vows to Curb Kurds

Kevin Spak — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 16:36:38 CDT

Iraq vowed today to “chase and arrest” Kurds who are striking Turkey from northern Iraq, the BBC reports. "We will co-operate with our neighbors in defeating this threat," Maliki told diplomats at international talks in Istanbul. Baghdad showed its muscle by shutting a Kurdish political office, but analysts say that...

Rice Pledges US Assist to Turkey

Jane Yager — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 06:04:27 CDT

Heading to talks in Ankara today, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters the Kurdish militants who have attacked Turkey from northern Iraq are a "common enemy" of the US and Turkey, and promised that the US will deliver an "effective" strategy against Kurdish militants if Ankara holds off its...

Turkey Masses Troops, Ready to Invade

Kevin Spak — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 18:17:10 CDT

Turkey will invade Northern Iraq “the moment an operation is needed,” Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan vowed after talks with Baghdad crumbled last night. Ankara has up to 100,000 troops on the Iraqi border, backed by tanks and fighter plans, ready to strike roughly 3,000 Kurdish rebels. The US...

Turkish Troops Said Missing

Jane Yager — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 07:28:22 CDT

A Turkish convoy with dozens of military vehicles joined tens of thousands of troops massed on the Iraqi border today, as the military announced that eight soldiers were missing, in addition to 12 killed, in an ambush by Kurdish militants early yesterday morning. The Turks shelled Kurdish camps over the...

Kurdish Rebels Kill 12 Turkish Soldiers

Caroline Zimmerman — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 11:51:19 CDT

Kurdish rebels killed 12 Turkish troops and wounded 16 more in a surprise attack in Turkey today, Reuters reports, four days after parliament voted to allow military strikes against the Kurdistan Workers' Party in northern Iraq. Now, the pressure is on for the Turkish government to take decisive military action,...

Turkey's Threats Send Oil to Record High Near $88

Kevin Spak — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 08:32:35 CDT

Crude oil hit yet another record today, trading near $88 a barrel over fears that a looming Turkish attack on Northern Iraq would disrupt pipelines in the world’s third-largest oil producer. Turkey’s PM said he expected parliament to approve an incursion to root out PKK militants in the Kurdish region,...