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Syria’s Arab tribes are mobilizing to attack Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorists in the country’s occupied northeast, in conjunction with Turkey’s imminent cross-border operation in the region.
Thousands of civilians in Raqqa, Deir Ezzor and Hasakah who are fed-up of PKK abuses since their cities came under occupation by the terror group, are organizing to launch attacks against PKK targets.
The Qamishli-based grouping aimed at ending PKK occupation is set to take to the streets as Turkey launches its military campaign, beginning with a wave of large-scale riots across the region.
Speaking exclusively to Yeni Şafak daily, the leader of the Al-Fadli tribe revealed that anger is boiling among the people of the region against PKK oppression.
“The people of Ras al-Ayn, Tal Abyad and Manbij can no longer tolerate the PKK,” he said.
“650 different tribe representatives will meet on Dec. 21 in Azaz with Turkey’s support. There are many ‘foreign’ projects for the future of the region. However, the Syrian people will put an end to them together with their true ally Turkey.”
On Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that operation could begin "at any moment", asserting that Turkey would never allow a “terror corridor” to be set up along its border.
Ahead of a possible Turkish counter-terrorist operation into Syria, drone footage shows YPG/PKK terrorists digging trenches and tunnels in the northern Syrian city of Ayn al-Arab, near Turkey's border.Video obtained by Anadolu Agency shows the terrorists in the city -- right across the border from Suruc, in the southeastern Turkish province of Sanliurfa -- dug trenches and tunnels, presumably to hinder Turkish armored vehicles from crossing the border for an operation east of the Euphrates River.In order to connect their positions near the border, the terrorists are using cement to fortify tunnels and trenches spanning two meters tall by one meter wide (6.5 feet tall, 3.2 feet wide).Video: YPG/PKK terrorist trenches spotted in northern SyriaThe footage also shows buildings thought to be local police stations with photos of terrorists on their walls.Turkey’s Operation Olive Branch, launched this January in northwestern Afrin, Syria to clear the area of terrorists, similarly encountered many YPG/PKK terrorist trenches.In October, Anadolu Agency also captured footage showing YPG/PKK terrorists surrounding Manbij, northern Syria, with the same method.A mission east of the Euphrates, which Turkey’s leadership has been suggesting for months, would follow two successful cross-border Turkish operations into Syria since 2016, both meant to eradicate the presence of YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists near Turkey’s borders.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including women and children. The YPG is its Syrian branch.Turkey’s leadership has said a cross-border operation against terrorists could come within days.
YPG/PKK terrorist trenches spotted in northern Syria
U.S. threatens Syrian opposition against joining Turkey op
Free Syrian Army (FSA) Representative Mustafa Sejeri received a call from U.S. Special Syria Representative James Jeffrey and a Pentagon official, in which he was warned against joining any Turkish operation east of the Euphrates.
Pentagon-affiliated groups, Liwa al-Hamza, Liwaa 51 and the Mutasem Brigades, were all warned by high-ranking U.S. officials against joining operations in Tal Abyad, Manbij or Ras al-Ayn.
“Your vehicles are being monitored via satellite; all your armored vehicles and pick-up trucks have monitoring chips in them. Groups that cross the border will pay dearly,” warned Jeffrey.
In a message to the Free Syrian Army and National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces (SMDK), the U.S. officials called on them to not support the planned Turkish operation.
"Any participation by the Syrian National Coalition or the Free Syrian Army in any way is an attack on the United States and the Coalition Forces, and it will lead to direct confrontation with Coalition Forces and the United States of America. That will fully destroy the relations between the United States and the Syrian National Coalition and the Free Army," the message read.
The message further read: "U.S. forces and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) [that is, YPG/PKK] are intertwined so that the SDF cannot be attacked without aggression and confrontation with Coalition Forces and U.S. forces and advisers."
"When elephants dance, you must stay away from the dance floor," the U.S. officials warned.
A possible mission east of the Euphrates, which Turkey’s leadership has been suggesting for months, would follow two successful cross-border Turkish operations into Syria since 2016 – Operation Euphrates Shield and Operation Olive Branch – both meant to eradicate the presence of YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists near Turkey’s borders.
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. The YPG is its Syrian branch.
Turkey announcing its planned military operation, which can start at "at any moment,” east of the Euphrates River in Syria, has sent Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) terrorists into a frenzy.Evaluating the recent developments in the region, Syrian Turkmen Assembly President Dr. Mohammed Wajeeh Juma divulged details about the growing atmosphere of panic among PKK terrorists in an exclusive interview with Yeni Şafak daily. “They increased the number of barricades. The PKK terror group acts like it will leave this region. They are in high state of fear, ” said Juma.“They have dug every corner of Manbij. They dug ditches every 100 meters,” he stressed.Hundreds of tunnels were dug by the PKK/PYD so close to the border in the towns and cities of Tal Abyad, Ras al-Ayn, Ayn al-Arab, Derbasiyeh and Malikiyyeh.On Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that operation could begin "at any moment", asserting that Turkey would never allow a “terror corridor” to be set up along its border.He said that Turkey is burying terrorists inside the trenches that they dig and will continue to do so in the future.Syrian opposition to back Turkish ops east of Euphrates“Our only hope is Turkey’s operation”Underlining the PKK terrorists’ atrocities against civilians, Juma said, “People hate the PKK terrorists here and are waiting for the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) and Free Syrian Army (FSA). They would like to get rid of the terror group and their only hope is Turkey now.”“Terrorists detained and tortured civilians who returned to Manbij. No one trusts the PKK here,” he added.Juma also slammed the U.S. administration’s weapon support to the terror organization and said, “They [PKK] seized the properties, including houses and workplaces, of everyone in this region. They are controlling the region with their weapons. The U.S supplies these weapons to them and we reject this stance.Last week, PKK terrorists accelerated efforts to transfer weapons received from the U.S. under the pretext of fighting Daesh to Syria’s northeastern town of Tal Abyad. The shipments particularly escalated after Turkey started to shell PKK/YPG terror positions in the city and the east of the Euphrates River.The PYD and its military YPG wing are Syrian branches of the PKK, which has waged war against Turkey for more than 30 years.A possible mission east of the Euphrates, which Turkey’s leadership has been suggesting for months, would follow two successful cross-border Turkish operations into Syria since 2016 – Operation Euphrates Shield and Operation Olive Branch – both meant to eradicate the presence of YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists near Turkey’s borders.
Turkey's upcoming military op in Syria sends PKK terrorists into panic
As Turkey’s upcoming operation east of the Euphrates to eradicate the area of terrorists looms, more details regarding Ankara’s third cross-border operation in Syria continue to emerge. A force of approximately 24,000, comprised of Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) and Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters are set to take part in the operation.On Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that operation could begin "at any moment", asserting that Turkey would never allow a “terror corridor” to be set up along its border.The first phase of the operation, whose aim is to clear terrorists from ten different garrisons, is set to be completed within two months.Second Brigade Commander General İsmail Metin, who oversaw Operation Olive Branch in Afrin, will be first in command in Turkey’s upcoming operation.US coalition spokesman apologizes for calling Turkish soldiers 'terrorists'Tunnels to be targeted firstThe first target of the operation will be tunnels belonging to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)’s Syria affiliate, the PYD, which were booby-trapped with the help of U.S. military officials.Hundreds of tunnels were dug by the PKK/PYD so close to the border in the towns and cities of Tal Abyad, Ras al-Ayn, Ayn al-Arab, Derbasiyeh and Malikiyyeh.Recon flights, infiltration and battlefront identification missions will destroy the booby-trapped tunnels as pre-designated targets will come under intense ground and aerial fire to pave the way for boots on the ground.Resulting craters from the destroyed tunnels is expected to force the TAF to use mobile bridges to continue deploying armored vehicles across the border.US Syria envoy says America's support for SDF not long-termSyrian opposition to back Turkish ops east of EuphratesLast week, PKK terrorists accelerated efforts to transfer weapons received from the U.S. under the pretext of fighting Daesh to Syria’s northeastern town of Tal Abyad. The shipments particularly escalated after Turkey started to shell PKK/YPG terror positions in the city and the east of the Euphrates River.The PYD and its military YPG wing are Syrian branches of the PKK, which has waged war against Turkey for more than 30 years.A possible mission east of the Euphrates, which Turkey’s leadership has been suggesting for months, would follow two successful cross-border Turkish operations into Syria since 2016 – Operation Euphrates Shield and Operation Olive Branch – both meant to eradicate the presence of YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists near Turkey’s borders.A total of 17,000 square kilometers are expected to be cleared from PKK/PYD terrorists during the first phase of the operation. However, the final phase of the operation in Syria will remain under wraps until zero hour.Additional force on the way According to a statement made by the commander of the Idlib-based FSA Thuwwar Idlib brigade to Yeni Şafak daily, an additional back-up force of 8,000- 15,000 will be dispatched to join units at the ready.Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected ferocity.According to UN figures, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed in the conflict to date.
24,000-strong TAF, FSA force to take part in Turkey’s east of Euphrates op