ANKARA - The United States backed Turkish air raids on PKK in northern Iraq Sunday with intelligence and clearance to enter Iraqi airspace, Turkey's army chief said according to the Anatolia news agency.
"The United States gave intelligence," General Yasar Buyukanit was quoted by the agency as telling the private television channel Kanal D.
"But what is more important is that the United States last night opened northern Iraqi airspace to us. By doing that, the United States approved the operation," Buyukanit said.
The general staff announced earlier that Turkish warplanes had carried out air strikes early Sunday against positions of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants in the Kurdish-run north of Iraq. Artillery pounded the targets after the air raids, it said.
"The PKK should watch its step. It should not forget that, for us, its camps and movement in northern Iraq are like a 'Big Brother' show," the general said, referring to the popular reality TV show.
He said winter conditions in mountainous northern Iraq would provide no refuge for the rebels who have been waging a 23-year campaign for self-rule in Turkey's southeast.
"The Turkish Armed Forces have given the message to the Turkish public and the world that whether it is winter or summer, we will find and hit them (PKK) even if they live in caves," Buyukanit added.
Buyukanit said that Sunday's strikes had been successful and all targets had been destroyed.
He denied that villages along the border had been struck, and said that the strikes targeted PKK camps that had been previously identified.
"No civilian targets or villages were hit even accidentally," Buyukanit said.
The general said he and his top commanders had watched the operation live at the general staff headquarters in Ankara.
"Last night, I did not sleep at all.... I went home in the morning with my mind at rest," he added.
han/boc
12/16/2007 20:06 GMT