Turkey's parliament sanctioned military cross-border operations against the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK), based in northern Iraq, following an earlier government request and despite opposition from Washington and Baghdad. Turkey has now amassed up to 150,000 troops in anticipation of a major cross-border military operation against around 3,500 PKK insurgents based in Iraq.
The General Staff said in a statement posted on its Web site that 15 of about 100 PKK militants based in the southeastern province of Sirnak were killed in a massive attack launched by mobile units, attack helicopters, and other military.
Local media reported earlier on Wednesday that the Army had killed 35 militants in the Tunceli Province, in west-central Turkey.
"When a group of almost 50 terrorists was discovered in the area on the evening of October 28, an operation was launched with the support of four Cobra attack helicopters, as a result of which 35 militants were killed," the Sabah newspaper said, citing military sources.
Sabah's report has yet to be officially confirmed, however.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that Turkey expects urgent action from the United States to destroy Kurdish insurgent bases in north Iraq.
"We expect the U.S. to take urgent, concrete steps against terrorist bases," the premier told Turkey's parliament.
Erdogan is set to meet with U.S. President George Bush in Washington on November 5 to discuss the issue.
"Turkey's patience has run out. We will discuss with the United States countries that are harboring terrorists, as well as measures that are necessary to fight terrorism," Erdogan said.
The Turkish army said on Monday it had captured 100 Kurdish rebels near the border. Monday's fighting coincided with the 84th anniversary of the Turkish Republic, which the country marked with large-scale military parades.
A total of four Turkish soldiers have died in clashes with insurgents on the border since Monday morning.
The PKK, labeled by the U.S., NATO and the EU as a terrorist organization, has been fighting for autonomy status in southeast Turkey for nearly 25 years. The conflict has so far claimed about 40,000 lives, including 80 Kurdish militants killed in special operations conducted by the Turkish army near the border with Iraq last week.
