Turkey reportedly amasses tanks and troops near border to Iraq, vows to tackle ‘threat’

‘Ankara is deploying heavy armor, including tanks to the border near Iraq, media reports say. Turkish Defense Minister has meanwhile said that the military will tackle potential “increase” of threats to the country.
Turkish tanks as well as armored vehicles have started moving into the town of Silopi, located close to the border with Iraq, Turkish Dogan news agency and Reuters report citing army sources.
According to the country’s Defense Minister Fikri Isik, the deployment is part of anti-terrorist fight and is also linked to the developments in Iraq.
“We will not allow the threat to Turkey to increase,” Isik told broadcaster A Haber as cited by Reuters. Ankara has “no obligation” to wait until the fighters of the Kurdistan Workers Partry (PKK), considered by Turkey terrorists, will seize territories in Iraq’s Sinjar region, around 115 km south of Silopi, Isik added.’
Read more: Turkey reportedly amasses tanks and troops near border to Iraq, vows to tackle ‘threat’