Hami Aksoy
Turkey will continue its anti-terror operations in northern Iraq’s Sinjar region as long as terror groups exist in Iraq, the foreign ministry spokesman said on Saturday.
In a written statement, Hami Aksoy said PKK terror group has used Iraqi soil as a base to attack Turkey for many years.
“As a result of these attacks, tens of thousands of our people were killed," Aksoy said. "Activities of PKK terror group in Iraqi and Syrian soils have been a national security issue for Turkey."
“As long as terror organizations exist on Iraqi soil, these counter-terror operations will continue," he said.
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.
U.S. Special Representative for Syria James Jeffrey visited northern Syria’s Hasakah after the news of Turkey’s upcoming military operation to boost the morale of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorists, according to reports.Turkey will launch an operation in the east of the Euphrates in a few days to liberate the region from the PKK terrorist organization, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced on Wednesday.The terrorists allegedly told Jeffrey, who is the former ambassador to Ankara, that “If Turkey attacks, our fight against Daesh will come to an end.” Jeffrey is expected to stay in the region a while longer and continue his contacts.Following the meeting with the U.S. envoy, PKK’s so-called Syria spokesman Nuri Mahmoud addressed PKK terrorists and said, “If there is an attack, we will respond. All our forces believe in the revolution.”PKK’s so-called heads, who often gather together the region’s tribes, are threatening locals, saying that they will seize everything they have if they don’t support the terror group.U.S. Commander Sean Robertson, in response to the upcoming Turkish operation, said: “Unilateral military action into north-east Syria by any party, particularly as U.S. personnel may be present or in the vicinity, is of grave concern.”“Our target is never American troops,” Erdoğan had said on Wednesday.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 – Operation Euphrates Shield and Operation Olive Branch – both meant to eradicate the presence of YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists near Turkey’s borders.The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. The PKK has been conducting armed violence in the southeastern part of Turkey since 1984. More than 40,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the three-decade long conflict.YPG/PKK’s terror structure in region east of Euphrates
US's Syria envoy Jeffrey visits PKK in Hasakah as Turkish op looms
The YPG/PKK terrorist group continues its efforts to form a state in the region east of the Euphrates River in Syria, where Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said a military operation will be launched soon.The terror group has changed the population structure of the area and has taken under control the country’s richest energy resources, agricultural lands and water resources.YPG/PKK is increasing its level of threat with thousands of armed men.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.On Wednesday, Erdogan announced that an operation to clear east of Euphrates river of the YPG/PKK terrorists will start in a few days.The terror group has occupied the region east of the Euphrates, which shares a 480-kilometer-long (298 miles) border with Turkey.Turkish provinces of Sanliurfa, Mardin and Sirnak border the region.The region east of Euphrates spreads to more than 45,000 square kilometers (17,374 square miles).According to Anadolu Agency's map calculations, the area forms one third of Syrian territories.Since October 2014, the YPG/PKK has occupied territories located east of the Euphrates with an intensive support of the U.S., which provided arms to the terror group and bombed Daesh targets.
YPG/PKK’s terror structure in region east of Euphrates
The Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) is in preparation to carry on an operation against Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorists east of the Euphrates River in northern Syria.Newly-elected Raqqa Local Council President Fayez al-Ghada spoke to Yeni Şafak daily in his first exclusive interview since he took office and divulged the details of the U.S and the PKK alliance in the region, as well as the public’s support of Turkey’s upcoming military operation.“If Manbij is purged of the PKK, it will pave the way for the liberation of Raqqa,” al-Ghada stressed.Turkey will launch an operation in the east of the Euphrates in a few days to liberate the region from the PKK terrorist organization, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced on Wednesday.14,000 strong FSA army ready for Turkey’s Euphrates opUS-PKK alliance forced 850,000 civilians to leave the regionSharing his opinions on the U.S.’s attitude toward civilians in Raqqa, he said, “850,000 civilians fled the region owing to the Raqqa operation launched under the pretext of fighting Daesh. None of those civilians returned home because the U.S. forces and the PKK have not permitted them to.”“Actually, PKK terrorists want to flee Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor because they don’t feel safe in the region, but the U.S convinced them to stay,” al-Ghada continued.The U.S.-led coalition's bombardment of Syria's Raqqa in 2017 had resulted in numerous civilian casualties.“Turkish army will eventually enter Raqqa”Stressing the public support for Turkey’s looming operation, al-Ghada said, “The U.S does not allow civilians to return home, nor does it allow for the reconstruction of the schools, mosques, houses, bakeries and hospitals. If the Turkish army launches its military operation east of the Euphrates River, it will garner public support on a much larger scale than expected,” he said.“The TAF and FSA will eventually enter Raqqa,” he concluded.Turkey has repeatedly objected to U.S. support for the terrorist PKK/PYD as a "reliable ally" in Syria, which has included supplying arms and equipment.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 – 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 death of some 40,000 people, including women and children. The YPG is its Syrian branch.
‘Purging Manbij of PKK terrorists will pave the way for Raqqa’s liberation’