Turkey’s invasion of northern Iraq is a rather excessive response to dealing with threats from the alleged Kurdish militants. It has sent in ground troops backed by helicopter gunships, fighter jets and heavy artillery. The part of Iraq that Turkish troops have entered is that which is controlled by the Kurds who enjoy considerable autonomy there. Turkey claims that the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) militants holed up in the mountains of northern Iraq are launching attacks in Turkey’s cities and that the Iraqi government is not doing anything to restrain them from doing so. Late last year, Turkey launched a series of massive bombing raids in northern Iraq, claiming that these were to “take out” the PKK. It massed tens of thousands of troops along the border but refrained from an all-out invasion. It has now taken that next step by sending in its ground forces. Turkey’s military offensives have failed in the past to crush the PKK. It is unlikely to succeed now.

Evidently Washington’s backing has emboldened Ankara to invade northern Iraq. The PKK is designated a terrorist group by Turkey, Iraq and the US. Though Ankara has embarked on a limited attack or “pin pointed strikes”, to eliminate the PKK which fights a guerrilla war, its fighters are constantly on the run and instead the civilians bear the brunt of Turkey’s military offensive. Ankara claims that its ongoing offensive is “very, very limited.” But this is a volatile region, already wracked by civil war. Turkey has promised Baghdad that it will not destroy infrastructure but it has bombed bridges. US backing for Turkey’s military offensive is clearly worsening the situation in Iraq and the region.

Turkey’s aims in invading northern Iraq go beyond eliminating the PKK. It is said to be aimed at weakening the autonomy of Iraqi Kurds. Turkey is concerned that with Kurdish nationalism on the rise in Iraqi Kurdistan the sentiment will spread among Kurds living in Turkey as well, contributing to revival of the struggle for a Greater Kurdistan. However, an invasion of northern Iraq or military operations against the Kurds is not going to crush the threat that Kurdish nationalism poses to Turkey. It will only fan the flames of this nationalism. Instead, Turkey should take steps to protect the rights of its Kurdish minority, ensure that they have a stake in being part of a united Turkey.