Turkish defense minister Hulusi Akar
Turkey will never stop fighting against terror and it is determined to continue its fight until the last terrorist is “neutralized,” the country’s defense minister said on Friday.
Hulusi Akar, the minister, was in Turkish capital Ankara to pay a visit to the family of gendarme sergeant Ozgur Can Ince, who was among eight soldiers martyred in a PKK terrorist attack in southeastern province of Batman.
On Thursday morning, PKK terrorists detonated an improvised explosive device planted on a road when a Turkish military vehicle was passing through the area, leaving eight soldiers martyred and another seriously injured.
"Turkey will continue fight against terror until the last terrorist will be neutralized. We can't stop or wait," Akar said.
"We can't stop. Turkish armed forces will continue their fight against terror with commitment and determination as they have been doing it for long," he stated.
During its 30-year campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- considered a terrorist group by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including numerous women and children.
The U.S. has yet to fulfill its promises given to Turkey about Manbij, Syria, with the YPG/PKK terror group surrounding the district center with trenches and embankments.After Turkey and the U.S. agreed this June to a roadmap agreement for removal of the YPG/PKK terror organization from Manbij, the terror group has to the contrary stepped up its presence and activities in the area, according to Anadolu Agency reporting. The terrorist group has completed the construction of trenches and embankments in areas surrounding the entire city center as if it has no intention of leaving.Highlighting problems with the agreement, Turkish presidential aide Ibrahim Kalin said on Wednesday: "Delaying tactics started becoming a growing problem. The Manbij roadmap should be implemented as soon as possible."Video: YPG/PKK dig ditches around Manbij in fear of Turkish forcesThe terror organization formed embankments at various depths in front of trenches to make up a series of lines stretching nearly 30 kilometers (18.06 miles).The trenches can be clearly seen from the sky in satellite photos taken by Anadolu Agency.The YPG/PKK terrorists also built tunnels linking trenches to use during possible combat.The terror group, using the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) label, organizes "defense of Manbij" meetings under the terror leadership from the PKK headquarters in Mt. Qandil, Iraq. Buildup next to areas liberated by TurkeyThe YPG is the Syrian branch of the terrorist PKK, whose 30-year terror campaign in Turkey has taken some 40,000 lives.Senior PKK/YPG terrorists train newly joined members of the terror group who escaped from Afrin -- liberated by Turkish-led forces this March -- to Manbij with U.S. support under the SDF umbrella.Turkey has long objected to U.S. support for the YPG/PKK.While the U.S. recognizes the PKK as a terrorist group, it has claimed the YPG is a “reliable ally” in the fight against Daesh, ignoring Turkey’s evidence that it is actually a PKK branch.The YPG/PKK terror group is also in the midst of a military buildup along Manbij's border with areas liberated by Turkey’s Operation Euphrates Shield in 2016-2017.The Turkish army first started patrolling on June 18 in Manbij with U.S. troops in line with a previously agreed roadmap for eliminating terrorists and stabilizing the area. So far the two armies have done 55 patrols in the region.The Manbij roadmap was first announced after a meeting in Washington between Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.The deal focuses on the withdrawal of PKK-affiliated YPG terror group from the northern Syrian city and stability in the region.Turkey has said the presence of terrorist forces near its border constitute a threat, and has launched military operations and other efforts to rid the region of terrorists.U.S. military support for the YPG/PKK terrorist group in Manbij has strained ties between Ankara and Washington and has led to fears of military clashes between the two NATO allies, since there are roughly 2,000 U.S. troops in the city.
YPG/PKK terror group digging in around Manbij, Syria
At least three PKK terrorists were "neutralized" in an anti-terror operation in northern Iraq, according to the military on Friday.Turkish General Staff said in a statement that Turkish Armed Forces launched air operations in northern Iraq's Zap region, neutralizing three terrorists.The terrorists were planning to attack Turkish military bases, the military added.Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.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.US seeks to threaten Turkish Bashiqa military presence, Ovaköy border gateUS 'on track' with Manbij roadmap: commanderIraq condemns PKK attack in southeastern Turkey
Turkey neutralizes 3 PKK terrorists in N. Iraq
Iraq strongly condemned an attack Thursday by the PKK terror group in Turkey’s Batman province in which eight Turkish soldiers were martyred.Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ahmed Mahjoub said Iraq is against terror and violence for whatever reason.He added that Iraq is in solidarity with neighboring Turkey on maintaining security and stability.PKK terrorists detonated an improvised explosive device as an armored military vehicle passed by, martyring eight soldiers and injuring one.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 nearly 40,000 people, including women and children.US condemns terror attack that martyred seven Turkish soldiersSeven Turkish soldiers martyred in PKK terror attack
Iraq condemns PKK attack in southeastern Turkey
Turkey will get rid of the PKK terrorist organization, Turkish Parliament Speaker Binali Yıldırım said on Thursday in the Aegean Izmir province.Decrying Thursday's PKK terror attack which martyred seven Turkish and wounded two, Yıldırım told a ceremony ushering in the school year at Ege University that no trace of terror will be left in the country, as Turkey is determined on this.Essentially, what the PKK is trying to do is fight Turkey's successful results in the war on terrorism, he said.On Thursday in the southeastern Batman province, an improvised explosive planted by PKK terrorists detonated when an armored military vehicle passed through, martyring seven soldiers.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 nearly 40,000 people, including women and children.Turkey to continue resolute anti-terror fight: ErdoğanPKK turns Syria into drug farm under US protectionWanted PKK terrorist ‘neutralized’ in southeast TurkeySeven Turkish soldiers martyred in PKK terror attackEx-terrorists narrate how PKK recruits children
'Turkey will rid itself of PKK terrorists'
The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terror organization carries on its drug cultivation and trafficking activities in the regions it occupies in Syria under the watchful eye of the U.S. after seizing thousands of hectares of farmlands in Raqqa, Hasakah and Deir Ezzor.PKK recruits addictsU.S.-PKK-occupied Raqqa, which boasts 120 hectares of farmlands, has become an integral part of a special project to promote the use and sale of drugs, which are found in markets, stationery stores and pharmacies across Raqqa, Deir Ezzor, Hasakah and Tal Abyad.Raqqa resident Anwar Rushdi, who spoke exclusive to Yeni Şafak daily, said the PKK terror group uses drugs as a means to get fighters to join its ranks.“First they turn them into addicts, then they recruit them in PKK ranks,” continued Rushdi.The PKK/YPG controls an area of about 53,000 square kilometers with a percentage of 28.6 of Syrian territory.'Manbij roadmap should be implemented soon'Ex-terrorists narrate how PKK recruits childrenFields under U.S. protection According to Rushdi, cannabis was planted in PYD-occupied areas that included thousands of acres of land that provided the bulk of agriculture in pre-war in Syria. “There are four large drug farms that no one has access to in close proximity to U.S. bases in Raqqa, Hasakah and Tal Abyad in Dimashqiyyeh, Ali Bajeeriyeh and Mazraat al-Rabia. Sometimes, U.S.-armored vehicles go there and stay for a while with PKK terrorists,” continued Rushdi.The U.S. has also has supplied the PYD terror organization and its armed wing, the YPG, with thousands of truckloads of weapons to allegedly use in the fight against Daesh, despite Ankara’s warnings that the fact they are the Syrian offshoots of the PKK terror organization.PKK terrorist oversees traffickingAccording to Raqqa-based lawyer Muhammad Saeed, a PKK terrorist from Ayn al-Arab who operates under the codename “Roni” became in charge of the terror group’s drug industry in 2017. “He was first dispatched to Tal Abyad and then to Raqqa. They are devoting special efforts to spread this poison among Arab and Turkmen populations in FSA-controlled regions. They ship them through the Manbij- Jarabulus route,” said Saeed.Wanted PKK terrorist ‘neutralized’ in southeast TurkeyOperations based in Raqqa After seizing close to 120 hectares of arable lands between 2012- 2017, the PKK turned Afrin into the Middle East’s biggest drug cultivation and trading region, according to Rushdi. “After Operation Olive Branch, a number of drug traffickers fled to Tal Abyad and Hasakah, but the majority resettled in Raqqa. Dozens of businesses in the city’s industrial zone were turned into of drug factories. Raqqa became the new center of drug cultivation and trafficking to Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Iran, Turkey, and Gulf and European countries,” continued Rushdi. The Turkish military cleared a 2,500 square mile (4,000 square kilometer) area from Daesh and YPG/PKK terrorists as part of the Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch operations in Syria.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.Backing from a Lebanese drug lord According to Saeed, Lebanese drug lord Nouh Zaieter is providing logistical support to the Raqqa-based drug trade. A part of the drug shipments are trafficked to Lebanon through the Raqqa- Salamiyyeh- Hom- Qusayr route, from where it’s sold to other Arab and European countries. “Another drug export channel for the PKK is the Latakia- Tartous route operated by terrorist Mihraç Ural.” “Two of the big partners in the 15-year drug trade along the Latakia-Tartous route are President Bashar al-Assad’s cousins Rami and Hafez Makhlouf,” concluded Saeed.
PKK turns Syria into drug farm under US protection