2008 Turkish incursion into northern Iraq

The 2008 Turkish incursion into northern Iraq, code-named Operation Sun (Turkish: Güneş Harekatı) by the Turkish Armed Forces, began on February 21, 2008, when the Turkish Army sent troops into northern Iraq to target the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The ground offensive was preceded by Turkish Air Force bombardments of PKK camps in northern Iraq, which began on December 16, 2007. It was the "first confirmed ground incursion" of Iraq since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.

Operation Sun
Part of the Kurdish–Turkish conflict, Iraq War and the Iraqi civil war (2006–2008)

Location of the Kurdistan Regional Government in northern Iraq
DateFebruary 21, 2008 – February 29, 2008
Location
Result Both sides claim victory
Belligerents
 Turkey PKK
PJAK
Commanders and leaders
Yaşar Büyükanıt
İlker Başbuğ
Aydoğan Babaoğlu
Bekir Kalyoncu
Murat Karayilan
Fehman Huseyin
Cemil Bayik
Murat Karasac
Strength
5,000-10,000 troops or several hundred, including 3,000 special forces
14 aircraft
5,000 (estimated)
Casualties and losses

24 soldiers killed
3 village guards killed

1 AH-1 Cobra lost
237 killed, 3 captured
"Tens" killed (PKK claim)

Initial reports indicated that up to 10,000 troops had taken part in the operation, although the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Multi-National Force – Iraq claimed only a few hundred troops were involved.

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