Today’s WaPo continues its coverage of the Turkish attacks against the PKK.

ANKARA, Turkey -- Soldiers battled separatist Kurdish rebels across southeast Turkey, trapping about 100 in caves near the Iraqi border after blocking escape routes across the frontier, Turkey's state-run news agency reported Monday.

The guerrillas denied the report.
…
The official Anatolia news agency said troops had trapped the group of about 100 rebels in the Ikiyaka mountains in Hakkari province, forcing them to hide in caves.

Map - BBC

It remains to be seen whether the Ikiyaka Mountains resemble the mountains of Tora Bora. Perhaps not. President Gul may have different priorities than Mr Bu$h.

At the end of the invasion of Afghanistan, the foreign al-Qaeda fighters were still holding out in the mountains of Tora Bora. Anti-Taliban tribal militia continued a steady advance through the difficult terrain, backed by withering air strikes guided in by U.S. and British Special Forces. Facing defeat and reluctant to fight fellow Muslims, the al-Qaeda forces negotiated a truce with a local militia commander to give them time to surrender their weapons. In retrospect, however, many believe that the truce was a ruse to allow important al-Qaeda figures, including Osama bin Laden, to escape [citation needed]. On December 12, the fighting flared again, possibly initiated by a rear guard buying time for the main force's escape through the White Mountains into the tribal areas of Pakistan. Once again, tribal forces backed by U.S. special operations troops and air support pressed ahead against fortified al-Qaeda positions in caves and bunkers scattered throughout the mountainous region. Twelve British SBS commandos accompanied the U.S. special operations forces in the attack on the cave complex at Tora Bora.

By December 17, the last cave complex had been taken and their defenders overrun. They did not find any massive “underground fortresses”, only small bunkers and outposts and a few minor training camps [1].

So much for the history lesson. Back to the present:

The military in Hakkari has been shelling mountain passes used by the rebels to escape to bases in Iraq.

Troops backed by attack helicopters were also battling rebels in Sirnak province on the border with Iraq, Anatolia reported. One soldier was killed in the fighting, private Dogan news agency reported, without citing sources.

AP journalists nearby saw three Cobra attack helicopters bombing targets on Mount Cudi, on the Iraqi border. Smoke could be seen rising from the area. Machine gun and mortar or artillery fire could also be heard.

Let’s hope the Turks are better able to distinguish between fighters and civilians than the American forces are.

This is a very dangerous situation for all, including Americans. The Bu$h malAdministration is said to be counseling the Turkish government to apply patience in this matter.

Ohoh! Wait a minute. That last paragraph may no longer be operative, as they say.

Concerns that Turkey may send troops south across the border helped send oil prices above $93 a barrel to a new trading high in Asia on Monday.