Hold Off Attacking Kurds in N. Iraq, Gates Urges

Summary

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NOORDWIJK, the Netherlands -- Pentagon chief Robert Gates said Wednesday he saw little sense in air strikes or major ground assaults by U.S., Turkish or other forces against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq until more is known about their locations along the border.

His comments to reporters during a break in a NATO defense ministers meeting suggested U.S. concern that Turkey will open a large-scale offensive across the border into the Kurdish region of northern Iraq. That area has been one of the most prosperous and peaceful parts of Iraq in recent years.

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Hold Off Attacking Kurds in N. Iraq, Gates Urges

Turkish warplanes and helicopter gunships reportedly attacked positions of Kurdish rebels just inside Turkey earlier Wednesday, and Turkish leaders in Ankara discussed the ...

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