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At least four PKK/KCK terror suspects have been arrested in an anti-terror operation across Turkey on Saturday, according to security sources.
In separate raids, four suspects were arrested in three provinces, including Istanbul, Van, and Izmir, said the source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.
Digital material used in the propaganda for the terrorist organization was also seized.
The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and EU.
In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, it has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including women and children.
Iraq has restarted exports of Kirkuk oil, halted a year ago due to a standoff between the central government and Kurdistan's semi-autonomous region, industry sources said on Friday after a new government in Baghdad agreed a tentative deal with Erbil.The development is a win for the U.S. government, which has been urging both sides to settle the dispute and resume flows to help address a shortage of Iranian crude in the region after Washington imposed new sanctions on Tehran.Flows resumed on Friday at a modest level of around 50,000-60,000 barrels per day (bpd) versus a peak of 300,000 seen occasionally last year and it was not clear when and by how much they would rise, sources said.The Iraqi Oil Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.YPG is 'Syrian offshoot' of PKK terror group: US envoyThe deal signals new Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi and Oil Minister Thamir Ghadhban are ready to work with Erbil despite previous tensions and a failed independence referendum in September 2017.The halting of exports from Kirkuk in October 2017 stopped nearly 300,000 bpd flowing out of Iraq towards Turkey and international markets - causing a net revenue loss of some $8 billion over the past year.Most of Iraq's exports come from southern fields, but Kirkuk is one of the biggest and oldest oilfields in the Middle East, estimated to contain 9 billion barrels of recoverable oil.Exports have been on hold because Iraqi government forces took control of Kirkuk from Kurdish authorities. The Kurds had controlled Kirkuk and its oilfields after Daesh militants drove the Iraqi army out in 2014, and Kurdish forces in turn ejected the militants.Iraqi president arrives in Jordan for official visitThe pipeline Baghdad once used for export via Turkey was wrecked by Daesh - leaving only one working pipeline, built and controlled by the Kurds.Talks about a flow resumption were also complicated by the fact that the pipeline is controlled by Russian oil major Rosneft, which collects transit fees for exports.Kurdistan is producing and exporting some 400,000 bpd via the pipeline. Kirkuk's flow resumption will boost the volume to 450,000-500,000 bpd, short of the 700,000 bpd Kurdistan was exporting in some periods of last year.Iraqi authorities say they still need to feed local refineries where Kirkuk's output has been diverted over the past year. The refineries are still set to receive some 185,000 bpd under the latest arrangements, according to sources.Baghdad and Erbil have yet to find a compromise over maximum flow levels as well as budget transfers from the central government to Erbil - something the two sides have struggled to agree on for many years. US comes to Talabani’s rescue as Barzani attempts coup after KRG referendum
Iraq restarts some Kirkuk oil flows after year-long halt
A total of 28 children were raped in Syria’s northern Aleppo province in the last two months alone, which was recaptured by Assad regime forces and its foreign allies in December 2016, according to a report that was conducted by interviewing Syrian families.The horrific part of the report reveals that 11 of them were murdered after being raped.The latest rape and murder occurred 15 days ago and took place near the Aleppo University Hospital.Speaking exclusively to Yeni Şafak daily, spokesman of the Syrian Assistance Coordination Unit Abu Tawfik evaluated the recent developments in Syria.“Aleppo is battling every kind of human rights violation and instability. Terror and looter groups continue to dominate many neighborhoods in the town.”The report also indicated that there is no authority in the town for locals to file a complaint to.YPG is 'Syrian offshoot' of PKK terror group: US envoyFamilies scared to send their children to schoolSyrian families are also worried about sending their children to schools and stand guard in front of the buildings as kidnappings have increased.Syria has been locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity.Since then, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and more than 10 million others were displaced, according to UN officials.US to vote 'No' for first time on UN Golan resolution
Assad forces raped 28, murdered 11 children in two months in Syria’s Aleppo
The PYD/YPG is the Syrian branch of the PKK terror group, the American Special Representative for Syria James Jeffrey said Thursday.He spoke at a panel at the Defense One Summit, which brings top military, foreign policy and intelligence leaders to Washington to discuss American security throughout the world.Jeffrey said U.S. operations in Syria could not be done without the "active participation, coordination, and cooperation of Turkey."The U.S. is not able to function in the northeastern region of Syria while fighting Daesh forces at the same time, and to do both a local partner is needed, according to Jeffrey."That local partner since 2014 has been the PYD, which is the Syrian offshoot of PKK, but we have not designated it as a terrorist organization which we did with the PKK,” said Jeffrey, referring to the political wing of the YPG.Video: 'YPG is Syrian offshoot of PKK terror group'In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people.Turkey has repeatedly told Washington that the PYD/YPG is not any different from the PKK and partnering with one terrorist organization to defeat another would not yield any result.He said that the U.S. is still in the northeast region of Syria to defeat Daesh terrorists, remove Iranians out of the area and ensure the political process in the country.Turkey agrees with all three points but the U.S. added "some conditions" and did not do a proper job of explaining them to Ankara, he said without mentioning what those conditions were.Jeffrey said without Turkey’s help, the U.S. mission in Syria would be over.Turkey neutralizes four PKK terrorists in northern IraqN. Syrian tribes hail Turkey’s anti-YPG/PKK effortsPKK bans hijab in occupied areas of NW Syria
YPG is 'Syrian offshoot' of PKK terror group: US envoy
Turkish security forces ''neutralized'' 100 so-called senior terrorists in 2018, the interior minister said on Thursday."We carried out 87,838 operations against PKK this year. We have neutralized 1,289 terrorists in these operations," Suleyman Soylu told the parliament.Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralize" in their statements to imply the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.Soylu added that they have increased the counterterrorism operations in the rural areas 173 percent over last two years.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including women and children.
100 senior terrorists neutralized in 2018: Turkish min.