Iraqi Kurds say Iranian troops enter north Iraq .
ISTANBUL 1996-08-31
Iranian troops on Saturday entered Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq in the wake of an assault backed by Baghdad into the region , an Iraqi Kurdish group told Reuters .
" They entered this morning .
They have occupied the area to the depth of 40 km ( 25 miles ) .
They have established a headquarters in Chuman , " Faik Nerweyi of the Kurdistan Democratic Party ( KDP ) told Reuters by telephone from Ankara .
Nerweyi said he did not know the size or nature of the Iranian force in northern Iraq , but said KDP fighters had been easily outgunned in the area close to the Iranian border and had quickly withdrawn further west .
" They were far too strong , " he said .
Nerweyi said he did not know if there were any casualties .
A U.N. official in Baghdad said the KDP , backed by Iraqi tanks , heavy artillery and helicopters had taken control of the main northern Iraqi city of Arbil after fighting on Saturday .
U.S. President Bill Clinton has authorised the repositioning of U.S. firepower in the Gulf region in response to the Iraqi attacks .
The KDP charges that the rival Patriotic Union of Kurdistan , which took control of Arbil in fighting in December 1994 , has backing from Iran .
The PUK accuses the KDP of collaborating with Baghdad .
Northern Iraq has been under Iraqi Kurdish control since after the 1991 Gulf War .
U.S.-led allied planes based in Turkey are intended to protect the Kurds from Baghdad .