Operation Northern Iraq

This article is about the 1992 event. For the 2008 event, see 2008 Turkish incursion into northern Iraq.

Operation Northern Iraq
Turkish: Kuzey Irak Harekâtı

Part of the Kurdish–Turkish conflict
| Date| 12 October – 1 November 1992[1]

|

Location|

Iraqi Kurdistan

Result|

KRG–PKK cease-fire.

* 2 captured Turkish soldiers released by PKK
* All routes between Turkey and Iraqi Kurdistan re-opened
* End of KRG military operations against the PKK
* Withdrawal of Turkish forces
* Continued PKK presence in Northern Iraq
* Continued Kurdish–Turkish conflict

Belligerents

Turkey
Iraqi Kurdistan

* Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)
* Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)

|  Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)
Commanders and leaders
Doğan Güreş
Eşref Bitlis
Nawshirwan Mustafa|

Osman Öcalan[2]
Faruk Bozkur

Murat Karayılan
Strength
20,000 Turks[3]
5,000 Iraqi Kurds[4]|  2,000[4]–8,000[5]
Casualties and losses
Turkey:
28 killed
125 wounded
Iraqi Kurdistan:
150 killed[4]
Total:
178 killed|

1,551 killed[6]
2,700 injured[5]
1,232 captured by Turkish forces[6]
(Turkish claim)
2,000 captured by KDP forces[5] (Barzani claim)

* * *

161 killed[4]
300 injured[4](PKK claim)

* v
* t
* e

Kurdish–Turkish conflict

Timeline

* * *

First insurgency

* 1984
* N Iraq (1986)
* N Iraq (1987)
* Pınarcık
* Yeşilova
* Şırnak
* Taşdelen
* Kulp
* N Iraq (1992)
* Bingöl
* Başbağlar
* Lice
* N Iraq (1994)
* Winter campaign
* Steel
* Tokat
* Tunceli
* Hawk
* Varto
* Sazak
* Hammer
* Dawn
* Murat
* Istanbul
* Blue Market

Second insurgency

* Hakkâri (2007)
* N Iraq (2007)
* Ankara
* Aktütün
* Diyarbakır
* Sun
* Reşadiye
* İskenderun
* Hakkâri
* Istanbul
* 2011 border raid
* Hakkâri (2011)
* Roboski
* Hakkâri (2012)
* Beytüşşebap
* Şemdinli

Third insurgency

* Ceylanpınar
* Siirt bombing
* Martyr Yalçın
* Police raids
* Arslan Kulaksız
* Şırnak
* Cizre (2015)
* Cizre (2016)
* Kandil
* Hakkari
* Silvan
* Sur
* Lice
* Dürümlü
* 2015 airport bombing
* Ankara (Feb 2016)
* Ankara (Mar 2016)
* Bursa
* Istanbul (Jun 2016)
* Istanbul (Oct 2016)
* Istanbul (Dec 2016)
* N Iraq (2016)
* Elazığ
* Cizre
* Euphrates Shield
* Şemdinli
* Kayseri
* İzmir
* Airstrikes in Syria & Iraq
* Olive Branch
* Siirt raid
* Sinjar (2018)
* Gercüş
* Claw
* Peace Spring
* Claw-Eagle & Claw-Tiger
* İskenderun
* Claw-Eagle 2
* Claw-Lightning & Thunderbolt
* Sinjar (2021)
* Claw-Lock
* Zakho

* * *

Serhildan

* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1999
* 2001
* 2005
* 2006
* 2008
* 2009
* 2011–2012
* 2014

* * *

Peace process and peace efforts

* 1991–2004 Kurdish–Turkish peace initiatives
* 1993 Kurdistan Workers' Party ceasefire
* 2013–2015 Solution process

* * *

Others

* Assassinations

Operation Northern Iraq (Turkish: Kuzey Irak Harekâtı) was a cross-border operation by the Turkish Armed Forces into northern Iraq between 12 October and 1 November 1992 against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) which is listed as a terrorist organization internationally by a number of states and organizations, including the United States, NATO and the EU.[7][failed verification] More than 37,000 people have been killed in the Kurdish–Turkish conflict since 1984.[8]

## Contents

* 1 Prelude
* 2 The Operation
* 3 Casualties
* 4 References

## Prelude[edit]

On April 8, 1992, Iraqi Kurdish leaders agreed to stop the PKK's raids into Turkey from their territory in an attempt to create good relations with Turkey.[5][9] In response, the PKK cut supply routes from Turkey to Iraqi Kurdistan on July 31.[5][9] To re-open the supply roots, Peshmerga loyal to the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (Iraqi Kurdistan's ruling parties), started an offensive on October 4 to drive the PKK from Northern Iraq.[5][9]

## The Operation[edit]

On August 6, the Turkish Air Force launched air raids to support Iraqi Kurdish forces in their offensive against the PKK. After the air raids, Turkey launched an operation against the PKK, using 20,000 ground troops, backed by tanks, helicopters and aircraft. It was estimated the PKK had over 8,000 fighters in the region. Turkey claimed to have killed and captured nearly 3 thousand PKK fighters and wounded 2,700 by November 5, with over 1,000 surrendering to Iraqi Kurdish forces, a number which rose to 1,400 by 12 November. In mid-November Turkish forces started to withdraw after claiming to have reduced the PKK's fighting force to a mere 2,500. The PKK acknowledged only 150 casualties.[5][9]

Most of the PKK's strength, including most of their experienced fighters, were based inside of Turkey at the time and so they lacked both manpower and resources inside Iraq. As supplies started to run out and PKK commanders also found it increasingly difficult to communicate with Abdullah Öcalan in Syria. Therefore, his brother Osman Öcalan agreed to meet with Prime Minister of Iraqi Kurdistan Fuad Masum on October 30 to negotiate. The negotiations were supported by Faruk "Nasir" Bozkur but were opposed by Murat "Cemal" Karayılan, which were the two other main commanders in Northern Iraq.[4] On November 17, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the PKK reached a truce accord under which the PKK would re-open all routes to Turkey and release 2 captured Turkish soldiers.[5] A buffer zone between Iraq and Turkey was to be created to prevent further PKK activities, however, according to Turkish officials this did not happen due to a lack of cooperation from the KRG.[4]

## Casualties[edit]

Turkey announced fatalities at a total of 28 personnel made out of 1 commissioned officer, 3 noncommissioned officers, 22 soldiers and 2 village guards. Turkey announced the injured at a total of 125 personnel made out of 12 commissioned officers 16 noncommissioned officers, 93 soldiers, and 4 village guards. Turkey announced the total number of militants neutralized at a total of 2,783 with 1,551 being killed and 1,232 being captured.[6]

## References[edit]

1. ^ Irak'a yapılan en büyük kara harekatı, 20 October 2011 (DHA)
2. ^ Kurdistan - Turkey
3. ^ Europa World Year Book 2004 (page 4226)
4. ^ a b c d e f g Page 203-206 Archived 2014-10-07 at the Wayback Machine
5. ^ a b c d e f g h Chronology for Kurds in Turkey Archived 2012-10-17 at the Wayback Machine
6. ^ a b c "Kuzey Irak harekatı (5 Ekim - 15 Kasım 1992)". Hürriyet. Retrieved 2007-10-11.
7. ^ "Council Decision", Council of the European Union, December 21, 2005
8. ^ "Kurdish rebels kill Turkey troops". BBC News. 2007-04-08. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
9. ^ a b c d "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2017-07-07.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

* v
* t
* e

Kurdish–Turkish conflict (1978–present)

* Timeline
* Map

Turkey|

| State|

* Government
* National Security Council
* Military
* Army
* Air Force
* Navy
* Gendarmerie
* Coast Guard
* Police
* MİT
* Village Guards

|

Deep state|

* Counter-Guerrilla
* Grey Wolves
* Turkish Revenge Brigade
* Susurluk scandal
* Ergenekon
* JİTEM

Kurdish groups|

| Insurgent|

* KCK
* PKK
* History
* People's Defence Forces (HPG)
* Free Women's Units (YJA-STAR)
* National Liberation Front of Kurdistan (ERNK)
* Liberation Forces OF Kurdistan (HRK)
* People's Liberation Army of Kurdistan (ARGK)
* Democratic People's Union of Kurdish (YDK)
* Democratic Society Coordination of Kurdistan (CDK)
* Free Women's Union of Kurdistan (YAJK)
* Workers' Women Party of Kurdistan (PJKK)
* Free Women Party (PJA)
* Free Women's Party of Kurdistan (PAJK)
* Women's Liberation Movement of Kurdistan (KJB)
* Freedom and Democracy Congress of Kurdistan (KADEK)
* People's Congress (Kongra-Gel)
* Confederation Community of Kurdistan (KKK)
* Revolutionary Party of Kurdistan (PŞK)
* Workers Vanguard Party of Kurdistan (PPKK)
* TAK
* KDP/N
* PJAK
* KKP
* Free Youth Movement of Kurdistan (TECAK)
* Marxist–Leninist Communist Party (MLKP)
* Patriotic Revolutionary Youth Movement (YDG-H)
* PIK
* HİK
* KH (Hüda-Par)

|

Allies|

* DHP
* TDP
* ASALA (until the late 1980s)

Political|

* HEP (1990–1993)
* DEP (1993–1994)
* HADEP (1994–2003)
* DEHAP (1997–2005)
* DTH (2005)
* DTP (2005–2009)
* BDP (2008–2014)
* HDP (2012–present)
* DBP (2014–present)

The conflict|

| 1974–1984|

* Political violence in Turkey (1976–1980)
* Maraş massacre
* 1980 Turkish coup d'état

|

1984–1999|

* 1984 PKK attacks
* August 1986 Turkish incursion into northern Iraq
* March 1987 Turkish incursion into northern Iraq
* Pınarcık massacre
* Yeşilova incident
* Battle of Şırnak
* 1992 Taşdelen attack
* Battle of Kulp
* Operation Northern Iraq
* May 24, 1993 PKK attack
* Başbağlar massacre
* Lice massacre
* Winter Campaign of 1994–1995
* Operation Steel
* Operation Hawk
* Operation Tokat
* 1996 Tunceli bombing
* Siege of Varto
* Sazak assault
* Operation Hammer
* Operation Dawn
* Operation Murat
* 1999 Istanbul bombings
* Blue Market massacre

1999–2004|

2000 Turkish Hezbollah crackdown

2004–2012|

* 2005 Kuşadası minibus bombing
* 2007 Ankara bombing
* October 2007 clashes in Hakkâri
* December 2007 Turkish incursion into northern Iraq
* 2008 Diyarbakır bombing
* 2008 Turkish incursion into northern Iraq
* 2008 Istanbul bombings
* October 2008 Aktütün attack
* Reşadiye shooting
* 2010 İskenderun attack
* 2010 Hakkâri bus bombing
* 2010 Istanbul bombing
* August 2011 Turkey–Iraq cross-border raids
* 2011 Hakkâri attack
* Roboski massacre
* June–August 2012 Hakkari clashes
* 2012 Gaziantep bombing
* September 2012 Beytüşşebap attack

2015–present|

* 2015 Siirt bombing
* Operation Martyr Yalçın
* 2015 Hakkari assault
* Siege of Silvan (2015)
* Şırnak clashes (2015–2016)
* Siege of Sur (2016)
* February 2016 Lice bombing
* February 2016 Ankara bombing
* March 2016 Ankara bombing
* March 2016 Turkish incursion into northern Iraq
* 2016 Bursa bombing
* May 2016 Dürümlü bombing
* May 2016 Diyarbakır bombing
* 2016 Cizre bombing
* 2016 Elazığ bombing
* Assassination of Deryan Aktert
* December 2016 Istanbul bombings
* 2017 Diyarbakır bombing
* Turkish airstrikes on Sinjar (2018)
* 2018 Siirt raid
* 2018 Gercüş bombing
* 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria
* 2020 İskenderun shootout
* Operation Claw-Eagle 2
* Operation Claw-Lock
* Zakho resort attack
* 2022 Mersin attack

Protests|

| Serhildan|

* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1999
* 2001
* 2005
* 2006
* 2008
* 2009
* 2011–2012
* 2014

|

Others|

* Mothers of Diyarbakır

Peace process and peace efforts|

* 1991–2004 Kurdish–Turkish peace initiatives
* 2013–2015 Solution process
* 1993 Kurdistan Workers' Party ceasefire
* Musa Anter peace train
* 2009–2010 Kurdistan Workers' Party ceasefire

Kurdish leaders|

| Insurgent|

* Abdullah Öcalan
* Cemîl Bayik
* Murat Karayılan
* Bahoz Erdal
* Mustafa Karasu
* Duran Kalkan
* Haji Ahmadi
* Osman Öcalan
* Mahsum Korkmaz
* Şemdin Sakık
* Nizamettin Taş
* Mazlum Doğan
* Muhammad Mustafa
* Hüseyin Velioğlu
* Celal Başkale
* İsmail Özden

|

Political|

* Ahmet Fehmi Işıklar
* Yaşar Kaya
* Leyla Zana
* Hatip Dicle
* Orhan Doğan
* Ahmet Türk
* Murat Bozlak
* Tuncer Bakırhan
* Aysel Tuğluk
* Selahattin Demirtaş
* Nurettin Demirtaş
* Ayla Akat Ata
* Gültan Kışanak
* Pervin Buldan
* Emine Ayna
* Sebahat Tuncel
* Kemal Burkay
* Fatma Kurtulan
* Osman Baydemir
* Sırrı Süreyya Önder

Turkish leaders|

| Military|

* Kenan Evren
* Tahsin Şahinkaya
* Bülend Ulusu
* Nurettin Ersin
* Necdet Üruğ
* Necip Torumtay
* Eşref Bitlis
* Doğan Güreş
* İsmail Hakkı Karadayı
* Hüseyin Kıvrıkoğlu
* Hilmi Özkök
* İbrahim Fırtına
* Faruk Cömert
* Yaşar Büyükanıt
* Aydoğan Babaoğlu
* İlker Başbuğ
* Işık Koşaner
* Erdal Ceylanoğlu
* Necdet Özel
* Hayri Kıvrıkoğlu

|

Political|

* Turgut Özal
* Süleyman Demirel
* Bülent Ecevit
* Ali Bozer
* Yıldırım Akbulut
* Mesut Yılmaz
* Erdal İnönü
* Tansu Çiller
* Mesut Yılmaz
* Necmettin Erbakan
* Ahmet Necdet Sezer
* Abdullah Gül
* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
* Süleyman Soylu

See also|

| Memorials, monuments
and military cemeteries|

* 33 Martyrs Memorial
* Düzce Military Cemetery
* Monument of the Martyrs of Internal Security

|

Other|

* Iraqi–Kurdish conflict
* Kurdish separatism in Iran
* Rojava conflict
* Kurdish rebellions in Turkey
* Kurdish refugees
* Human rights of Kurdish people in Turkey
* Kurdish villages depopulated by Turkey
* Iraq operations

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