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The Turkish army “neutralized” 68 PKK terrorists on Turkish soil and in northern Iraq over the past week, including two senior terrorists, the military said on Friday.
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 a weekly statement, the Turkish General Staff said that from Sept. 28 to Oct. 4, the army carried out anti-terror operations in Turkey’s southeastern Sirnak, Siirt, Diyarbakir, and Agri provinces, as well as in regions of northern Iraq.
The statement said 12 terrorists were neutralized on Turkish soil, while 56 others were neutralized in northern Iraq.
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.
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
The United States seeks to transform Iraq’s Sinjar into a second Qandil, which is the main headquarters of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorist organization. Activity in Sinjar, which has been occupied by the terror group under the guise of combatting Daesh since August 2014, has increased.Contrary to claims that it delivered the region to the Iraqi army last March, the PKK has bolstered its presence there. The U.S. is sending new terrorist groups to Sinjar, which is one of the most strategic areas in the Turkey-Iraq-Syria triangle.Iraqi Turkmen Front head Mehmet Seman Ağaoğlu said that the U.S. is trying to form a threat to Turkey’s military presence at Bashiqa base near Mosul by reinforcing Sinjar with PKK terrorists.Turkey to continue resolute anti-terror fight: ErdoğanTurkey sent some 150 troops and about two dozen combat tanks to Camp Bashiqa in 2015. The deployment -- which was criticized at the time by Baghdad -- was aimed at protecting Turkish military personnel tasked with training Iraqi volunteers. Turkey has a longstanding military training mission at Camp Bashiqa, where Turkish soldiers have trained local tribal volunteers in combat techniques.“U.S. military forces brought PKK terrorists here. America aims to interfere with the Turkish army at Bashiqa Camp.”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.‘Terrorists will have to pay price for bloodshed’“Whoever rules Sinjar rules Iraq’s north, the area occupied by the PKK in Syria and Turkey’s southeast. Whoever rules Sinjar will also rule the Ovaköy border gate,” Ağaoğlu said.The planned Ovaköy Border Gate will directly link Turkey to Baghdad via a 570-kilometer highway.“Ovaköy is not only a second border gate. Perhaps in the future, it will be the only border gate between Iraq and Turkey. Habur opens into the Kurdistan Regional Government, and Erbil causes many troubles regarding trade between the two countries [Iraq and Turkey]. If Ovaköy opens, trade will become easier. An agreement has been reached, the only problem now is in terms of security. Once that is resolved, it will open,” Ağaoğlu said.‘Ovaköy Border Gate must be opened immediately’Iraq deploys forces along Turkey border to thwart PKK infiltration
US seeks to threaten Turkish Bashiqa military presence, Ovaköy border gate
The U.S. is "on track" with the Manbij roadmap agreement with Turkey, a top American commander said Thursday.Gen. Joseph Votel, chief of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), spoke to reporters via teleconference, and discussed concerns about delays in the implementation of the roadmap.Amid issues of the PKK-affiliated YPG terrorist group still having a presence in the area, Votel said the U.S. would work to ensure that they are removed."We are on track with where we need to be with the Manbij roadmap. Many of those times we highlighted that this is a conditions-based approach to this. But I do asses we are on track where we need to be with respect to that," he said.US: VP accuses China of election meddling, tech theftThe Manbij deal between Turkey and the U.S. focuses on the withdrawal of the YPG forces from the city to stabilize the region, which is in the northeast of the Aleppo province in northern Syria."My understanding is that most of the YPG, if not all of the YPG, is out of Manbij right now. But of course, as we continue in implementing the roadmap there are specific activities within that to ensure that is the case," said Votel.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK has taken 40,000 lives, including many women and children. The YPG is its Syrian branch.In June, Turkish and U.S. forces began independent patrols in Manbij, however, joint patrols have yet to begin.Trump rolls out new US counterterrorism strategyTurkey's Defense Ministry said Tuesday the first batch of U.S. army personnel arrived in Turkey to join training for joint patrols."As the Secretary [James Mattis] has recently commented on, we're engaged with our Turkish partners right now and moving to the combined joint patrols. The leader training has begun for that, and we'll move into the collective training here very shortly," Votel said.Votel gave no timeline on when the patrols were expected to begin.
US 'on track' with Manbij roadmap: commander
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