- Operation Steel
-
Operation Steel
Çelik HarekâtıPart of the Turkey-PKK conflict Date 20 March - 4 May 1995 Location Iraqi Kurdistan Result Attack was relatively unsuccessful[1] Belligerents 
Turkey
Kurdistan Workers PartyCommanders and leaders Osman Pamukoğlu Nizamettin TasStrength 35,000 ~2,000 Casualties and losses 64 killed[2]
185 wounded[2]
(Turkish Claim)
555 killed[2]
13 captured[2]
(Turkish Claim)
60 killed[1]
(PKK Claim)15,000 Iraqi Kurdish civilians displaced [1] 15 August 1984 · Serhildan · Şırnak · Tasdelen · Northern Iraq · May 24 ambush · Winter Campaign · Steel · Sazak · Hammer · Dawn · Murat · 1st Hakkâri · Sun · Reşadiye · Turkey-Iraq cross-border · 2nd Hakkâri
Bombings:
Istanbul (1999) · Ankara (2007) · Diyarbakır (2008) · Istanbul (2008) · Hakkâri (2010) · Istanbul (2010)Operation Steel (Turkish: Çelik Harekâtı) was a cross-border operation by the Turkish Armed Forces into northern Iraq between 20 March and 4 May 1995 against the Kurdistan Workers' Party.
Contents
The battle
On March 20, 1995, some 35,000 Turkish troops launched an invasion into Northern Iraq. The effect of the attack was however relatively limited despite high PKK casualties, as majority of PKK forces however left the region before the offensive begun as they had had noticed the military buildup on the border and were anticipating the offensive. By April 25, Turkey pulled out 20,000 of its 35,000 forces from Northern Iraq. After on May 3, the Kurdistan Democratic Party delegation to Turkey said they would stop PKK activities in Iraqi Kurdistan, Turkey withdrew its remaining forces on May 4. The military operation strained relations between Turkey and the United States and Europe as over 15,000 Iraqi Kurdish civilians were displaced by Turkish forces.[1]
Casualties
More than 35,000 troops took part in the operation.[3] Turkey announced fatalities at a total of 64 personnel made out of 4 commissioned officers, 5 noncommissioned officers and 55 soldiers. Turkey announced the injured at a total of 185 personnel made out of 13 commissioned officers 8 noncommissioned officers and 164 soldiers. Turkey announced the total number of militants neutralized at a total of 568 with 555 being killed and 13 being captured live or injured.[2] The PKK claimed they killed 261 soldiers and only 18 of their fighters were killed during the operation.[3]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e Minorities at Risk Project, Chronology for Kurds in Turkey, Chronology for Kurds in Turkey, 2004. in the website of Refworld, UNHCR.
- ^ a b c d e "Çelik harekatı (20 Mart - 2 Mayıs 1994)". Hürriyet. http://fotoanaliz.hurriyet.com.tr/GaleriDetay.aspx?cid=6755&p=2&rid=4369. Retrieved 2007-10-11.
- ^ a b c Kurds in Turkey (page 18)
History · EffectsParticipants 
Kurdistan Workers Party · Kurdistan Freedom Falcons · 
Kurdistan Democratic Party/North · 
Revolutionary Party of Kurdistan · 
Party for a Free Life in KurdistanConflicts OthersArmed attacks
&terrorist action1984-2010List1984–199915 August 1984 · Serhildan · Şırnak 1992 · Elazığ-Bingöl 1993 · Başbağlar massacre · 1999 Istanbul bombings2004–20082005 Kuşadası bus bombing · 2007 Ankara bombing · Dağlıca 2007 · 2008 Diyarbakır bombing · 2008 Istanbul bombings · Reşadiye 2009 · 2010 Hakkâri bus attack · 2010 Istanbul bomb blastSee Also TimelineCategories:- Kurdistan Workers' Party
- 1995 in Turkey
- 1995 in Iraq
- Military operations involving Turkey
- Conflicts in 1995
- Cross-border operations
- Battle stubs
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
