Turkey attacks Kurdish rebel positions

ANKARA Turkish military attacked Kurdish rebel positions in the country's southeast region on Thursday. The clash came as Turkey grows increasingly concerned that the Kurdish rebels are trying to expand their reach by establishing bases in conflict-ridden Syria. Turkey attacks Kurdish rebel positions Today’s fighting pitted Turkish troops against Kurdish rebels who were allegedly planning to seize the town of Semdinli. The town sits on a high plateau, about 14 kilometers north of the border with Iraq. It is located in an area where the borders of Turkey, Iran and Iraq converge, AP has reported. The clashes began on July 23 when the rebels setup a road block near Semdinli, authorities said. AP says that the clashes have forced many villagers to flee their homes since. At least two soldiers have been killed and 14 others were wounded, the governor’s office said. Turkey’s state-run TRT television, without citing sources, said at least 37 rebels have been killed in the clashes, but authorities have not confirmed the report, AP has reported. Kurdish rebels have been fighting for autonomy in Turkey’s southeast for the last 28 years. Kurds make up a sizeable portion of the populations in neighboring countries as well. Turkish Kurdish rebels have established hideouts and bases in northern Iraq. More recently, Turkey says the rebels have managed to seize a handful of towns in neighboring Syria. The Turkish military has repeatedly targeted Kurdish rebel bases in northern Iraq and Turkey has hinted it would not hesitate to go after the rebels in Syria, AP points out. Beta

Turkey attacks Kurdish rebel positions

Today’s fighting pitted Turkish troops against Kurdish rebels who were allegedly planning to seize the town of Semdinli. The town sits on a high plateau, about 14 kilometers north of the border with Iraq. It is located in an area where the borders of Turkey, Iran and Iraq converge, AP has reported.

The clashes began on July 23 when the rebels setup a road block near Semdinli, authorities said.

AP says that the clashes have forced many villagers to flee their homes since.

At least two soldiers have been killed and 14 others were wounded, the governor’s office said. Turkey’s state-run TRT television, without citing sources, said at least 37 rebels have been killed in the clashes, but authorities have not confirmed the report, AP has reported.

Kurdish rebels have been fighting for autonomy in Turkey’s southeast for the last 28 years. Kurds make up a sizeable portion of the populations in neighboring countries as well. Turkish Kurdish rebels have established hideouts and bases in northern Iraq.

More recently, Turkey says the rebels have managed to seize a handful of towns in neighboring Syria.

The Turkish military has repeatedly targeted Kurdish rebel bases in northern Iraq and Turkey has hinted it would not hesitate to go after the rebels in Syria, AP points out.