According to the understanding of the analyst, the Turkish military launched the ground action ahead of schedule to consolidate their gains so that the PKK would not get time to recover and emerge strong enough to stage attacks against military and civilian targets in Turkey.

"Now it is a logical step to continue with the ground operations through which you put people on ground to destroy the logistics that the PKK left behind as a result of the Turkish air raids," said the Turkish military analyst anonymously.

The ground operations in northern Iraq also seem to come after coordination with various sides and strategic planning.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan made a statement on February 19 en route to Russia, saying ground operations might be launched.

Sedat Laciner, president of International Strategic Research Organization (USAK), one of Turkey's think tanks, said on Thursday "the topic of land operation has been extensively discussed between Deputy Chief of Turkish General Staff Gen. Ergin Saygun and Vice Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. James E. Cartwright."

In carrying out the attacks, Turkey has also sought to avoid confrontation with the United States and Iraq, stressing that the PKK guerillas were its only target.

US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the US had advised Turkey to end the operation as soon as possible and to keep it limited with the targets of the terrorist organization PKK.