Iranian army crossed Iraqi border twice in three days
Iranian army crossed Iraqi border twice in three days
Iranian troops have crossed into Iraq twice in three days. That is what a security spokesman told AFP yesterday.
The incursions, which both occurred after Iran's ambassador to Baghdad was summoned to the foreign ministry over the issue, came during a series of clashes in recent days with the Party of Free Life of Kurdistan (PJAK).
"Iranian forces, two days ago (Thursday), entered... Iraqi territory in the Haji Omran area" in Iraq's Kurdish autonomous region.
"The Iranian soldiers numbered more than 30, and were combined with armored vehicles and heavy weaponry," Major General Jabbar Yawar said.
Yawar said the Iranian troops penetrated two kilometres into Iraqi territory, two days after they crossed three kilometres over the border in similar clashes with the PJAK.
In recent weeks, Iran has repeatedly shelled suspected PJAK rear-bases in the border area. It has also carried out helicopter assaults across the frontier.
In a statement on May 31, the foreign ministry said it had separately summoned the ambassadors of Iran and Turkey over cross-border attacks by Tehran and Ankara against Kurdish rebel movements.
"The ministry expressed its strong concern over the two states' actions in the form of bombardment and air strikes along the border," the statement said.
It added: "The ministry called on both countries to cease these violations in future because they have a negative impact on the friendly relations between our countries."
The incursions, which both occurred after Iran's ambassador to Baghdad was summoned to the foreign ministry over the issue, came during a series of clashes in recent days with the Party of Free Life of Kurdistan (PJAK).
"Iranian forces, two days ago (Thursday), entered... Iraqi territory in the Haji Omran area" in Iraq's Kurdish autonomous region.
"The Iranian soldiers numbered more than 30, and were combined with armored vehicles and heavy weaponry," Major General Jabbar Yawar said.
Yawar said the Iranian troops penetrated two kilometres into Iraqi territory, two days after they crossed three kilometres over the border in similar clashes with the PJAK.
In recent weeks, Iran has repeatedly shelled suspected PJAK rear-bases in the border area. It has also carried out helicopter assaults across the frontier.
In a statement on May 31, the foreign ministry said it had separately summoned the ambassadors of Iran and Turkey over cross-border attacks by Tehran and Ankara against Kurdish rebel movements.
"The ministry expressed its strong concern over the two states' actions in the form of bombardment and air strikes along the border," the statement said.
It added: "The ministry called on both countries to cease these violations in future because they have a negative impact on the friendly relations between our countries."
