In Washington, a Pentagon official said the U.S. military had "deconflicted the airspace" in Iraq for the strikes -- that is, the United States made sure that Turkey would have clear use of the skies to enable the bombings.
Another Pentagon official said the U.S. military had been sharing intelligence with Turkey but that he did not know exactly what information was given to aid with the air strikes or when it might have been given.
A U.S. Embassy official in Ankara said the United States knew about the attack.
"It was a Turkish operation, it was a Turkish decision. We were informed," the official said.
As many as 50 fighter jets were involved in the airstrikes Sunday, Turkish media reported. It was the biggest attack against the rebels from the Kurdistan Workers' Party in years. Turkey had recently attacked the area with ground-based artillery and helicopters, and there have been some reports of airstrikes.
The Iraqi parliament condemned the bombing, calling it an "outrageous" violation of Iraq's sovereignty, which killed innocent civilians.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
