US Urges Turkey To Limit N. Iraq Offensive

The White House urged Turkish troops to limit operations to ˝precise targeting˝ of Kurdish PKK rebels.

The United States was informed in advance of Turkey's offensive in northern Iraq, the White House said on Friday, and urged Turkish troops to limit operations to "precise targeting" of Kurdish PKK rebels.

"This is something that we were aware of in advance and as you know the U.S. agrees with Turkey that the PKK is a terrorist organization and is an enemy of Turkey, Iraq and the United States," White House spokesman Scott Stanzel told reporters.

Turkish troops crossed into northern Iraq in their hunt for PKK guerrillas, the Turkish military said. Turkish TV said 3,000 to 10,000 soldiers had entered Iraq, but Iraq's foreign minister and a senior military official with coalition forces based in Baghdad said only a few hundred troops were involved.

"We were notified and we urged the Turkish government to limit their operations to precise targeting of the PKK, to limit the scope and duration of their operations," Stanzel said.

"We urged them to work directly also with the Iraqis, including Kurdish government officials, in determining how best to address the threat of the PKK," he added. "I understand that Turkish authorities had notified Iraqi authorities simultaneously."

Asked whether the United States helped coordinate details of the Turkish operation, Stanzel said, "As a NATO ally, we have a long-standing intelligence sharing (in) our relationship with Turkey. That was intensified with respect to the PKK as indicated in the meetings between Prime Minister (Tayyip) Erdogan and President (George W.) Bush (last year)."