Turkish army tanks are seen near the Turkish-Iraqi border town of Silopi in the Sirnak province, southeastern Turkey, Friday, Feb. 22, 2008. Turkish troops launched a ground incursion across the border into Iraq in pursuit of separatist Kurdish rebels, the military said Friday, a move that dramatically escalates Turkey's conflict with the militants.
A Turkish soldier stands guard on atop an armored vehicle in Sirnak province, on the Turkish-Iraqi border, southeastern Turkey, Monday, Dec. 17, 2007. The Turkish army sent soldiers about 1.5 miles into northern Iraq in an overnight operation on early Tuesday, Kurdish officials said. A Turkish official said the troops, seeking Kurdish rebels, were still in Iraq by midmorning.
Iraqis inspect the damage following air strikes by Turkish warplanes in Qandil, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2007. Turkey's bombardment of suspected PKK rebel rear-bases inside northern Iraq drew a furious response Monday from the Iraqi government and villagers hit by the air strikes.
Iraqis inspect the damage following air strikes by Turkish warplanes in Qandil, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2007. Turkey's bombardment of suspected PKK rebel rear-bases inside northern Iraq drew a furious response Monday from the Iraqi government and villagers hit by the air strikes.
Turkish soldiers stand next to their armored vehicle during a patrol in the mountains near the Iraq border, in the province of Sirnak, southeast Turkey, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2007. Turkey's prime minister accused the leader of Iraq's Kurdish region of "aiding and abetting" separatist Kurdish rebels in a sign of growing frustration with Iraqi Kurds' refusal to crack down on them.
Schoolchildren walk past an armored military vehicle and a patrolling Turkish soldier in the province of Sirnak, on the Turkish-Iraqi border, southeastern Turkey, Monday, Oct. 22, 2007. Dozens of military vehicles headed toward the Iraqi border as protesters demanded tough action against Kurdish rebels after 12 soldiers were killed Sunday in an ambush that has pushed Turkey closer to a possible attack on bases in Iraq.
A Turkish soldier uses a land mine detector during a patrol in the province of Sirnak, on the Turkish-Iraqi border, southeastern Turkey, Monday, Oct. 22, 2007. Turkey moved closer to a possible attack on Kurdish guerrilla bases in Iraq.
Turkish soldiers patrol on a road in the province of Sirnak, on the Turkish-Iraqi border, southeastern Turkey, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007. Turkey's Parliament on Wednesday authorized the government to send troops into northern Iraq to root out Kurdish rebels who have been conducting raids into Turkey. There was no sign of imminent action as the U.S. urged restraint.
Turkish soldiers patrol on a road in the province of Sirnak, on the Turkish-Iraqi border, southeastern Turkey, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007. Turkey moved closer to opening a new front in the Iraq war, with the government getting approval from parliament for a cross-border offensive against Kurdish rebels.
Turkish soldiers and a village guard, right in the background, patrol on a road in the province of Sirnak, near the Turkish-Iraqi border, southeastern Turkey, Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2007. Turkey's Parliament approved a possible cross-border military incursion into northern Iraq to chase separatist Kurdish rebels despite international calls for restraint.
Turkish soldiers in armored vehicles pause as they patrol on a road in the province of Sirnak, on the Turkish-Iraqi border, southeastern Turkey, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007. Turkish leaders have stressed that an offensive against the rebels of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, would not immediately follow the motion authorizing the incursion.
Turkish soldiers in an armored vehicle patrol on a road in the province of Sirnak, on the Turkish-Iraqi border, southeastern Turkey, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007. Public anger over attacks by Kurdish guerrillas on turkish military and civilians is high, but Turkish officials are mindful that two dozen Iraqi campaigns since the 1980s have failed to eradicate the PKK.
Turkish soldiers in armored vehicles patrol on a road in the province of Sirnak, on the Turkish-Iraqi border, southeastern Turkey, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007. Kurdish rebels from the PKK have been fighting since 1984 for autonomy in Turkey's Kurdish-dominated southeast, a conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives.
A military truck carries a Turkish army tank toward southeastern Turkish city of Sirnak at the Turkey-Iraq border in this Oct. 9, 2007, photo.
Demonstrators hold a minute of silence for each of 13 Turkish soldiers who were killed by Kurdish rebels in southeastern Turkey last week, during a silent protest in downtown Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2007. Iraq's Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi traveled to Ankara in an attempt to convince Turkey not to stage a cross-border offensive to fight separatist Kurdish rebels based in Iraq.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses the lawmakers of his ruling Justice and Development Party at the Parliament in Ankara, Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2007. Erdogan called on Iraq and Iraqi Kurds to crack down on separatist Kurdish rebels as Iraq's Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi visited Ankara in an apparent attempt to convince Turkey not to stage a cross-border offensive to fight Kurdish rebels based in Iraq.