Turkey’s well-planned operation against PKK base in Iraq.
After several months of quietly building up an expeditionary force in northern Iraq, Turkey is now sending its soldiers steadily deeper into the country to cut off the headquarters of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) on Mount Qandil in Iraqi Kurdistan on the Iranian border. Its soldiers now control a zone 30 kilometres inside the Iraqi border; advanced units have reached Erbil province, which adjoins Qandil. Behind-the-scenes diplomacy has broadly cleared the operation with Turkey’s regional neighbours, including the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq.
Turkey will woo the KRG with infrastructure and economic projects, including new roads and communications.
Turkish-Iranian cooperation will increase.
Arab opposition will mount to the Turkish presence in Iraq and Syria.
Russia may try to broker a PKK surrender and exodus.
