Turkey: Unnoticed Conflict

Another conflict has begun in the world but none of us are paying much attention. Well this conflict isn't exactly new but it has been ignited again as the winter in Northern Iraq has come to an end. For quite some time there has been an escalating clash between that of the Turkish military and the Kurds, more specifically the PKK (Kurdistan Worker's Party). Recently Turkish forces have launched "limited operations" into Northern Iraq advancing against several Kurdish camps. This is according to a BBC article.

Correspondents say the aim is to isolate rebels of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, PKK, and to prevent them using northern Iraq as a launch-pad for attacks on Turkish soil. More than 30,000 people have been killed since the PKK began fighting for a Kurdish homeland in south-eastern Turkey in 1984. The US, the EU and Turkey consider the PKK to be a terrorist organisation.

So what does this mean for the region? Shouldn't the US be flustered having Iraqi territory crossed? The article reports that Iraqi officials were notified on late notice and expressed concern about the incursions. However, since the US supports Turkey there isn't much Iraqi or US forces can say about the situation. The US deems the PKK a terrorist organization and it has no reason to be against the situation. As the US audience is distracted at home with campaigning, there probably won't be much deliberation on this event. The US is most likely keeping political relations balanced by allowing the Turks to attack the PKK. Seeing this situation though lets us see that the region obviously has some issues to work out. If the US is against the PKK, why doesn't it target the group itself? Instead we see the Turkish government taking the reigns. With the winter snows melting in the region,we'll probably see an escalation in attacks from both sides. Over time the world will watch another conflict play out but for now it is just important to note that the situation warrants some notice and is something we should keep track of in a region of high flying tensions.