ANKARA Turkey has tripled its military forces in northern Iraq, claiming that its 11 day campaign against Kurdish separatist guerrillas has claimed the lives of some 1,450 rebels.
"The number of troops has been increased to a level between 25,000 and 30,000" since Turkey sent 10,000 troops into northern Iraq on May 14th to wipe out bases of the Kurdistan Workers party (PKK), an official said.
Turkish televisions stations broadcast the first footage from northern Iraq yesterday, showing Turkish flags in several locations in what was called the Zab valley.