File Photo
It has been a year since Syria's Raqqa province, once known as a Daesh stronghold, came under the control of the YPG/PKK terrorist group.
Today, the bodies of slain civilians -- found in numerous mass graves -- are being prepared for proper burials.
The YPG/PKK seized the war-torn province -- with U.S. air cover -- on Oct. 17 of last year.
Throughout the last 12 months, numerous mass graves have been found in the city based on information obtained from the families of the missing.
Raqqa’s so-called “civil assembly”, set up in an attempt to justify the YPG/PKK’s ongoing occupation of the city, has granted some Arab residents positions on the assembly to give the impression that the local community has a say in the city’s administration.
Ilyas Hamish, a member of the civil assembly responsible for issues related to the mass graves, told Anadolu Agency on Thursday that the local authorities had found most of the graves based on information provided by grieving families.
At least 12 PKK terrorists were “neutralized” in an air operation in northern Iraq on Wednesday, according to the Turkish military.Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.In a Twitter post, Turkish Armed Forces said the airstrike were carried out in the Metina region against the terrorists -- who were plotting an attack on Turkish bases.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.
Turkish forces 'neutralize' 12 PKK terrorists in N.Iraq
The U.S. seeks to maintain its presence in Syria and continues to arm Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorists and its allies under the pretext of the fight the Daesh terror organization, which maintains just a small presence in two villages of Deir ez-Zor.The U.S 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.Daesh terrorists have control over two villages across Syria – Hajir and Ishafa- where only 1,500 are stationed in a 150 square-kilometer area.Former Deir ez-Zor Meyadin Council member, Kerem Fireyah, divulged the details about the main aim of the U.S in the region and told Yeni Şafak daily in an exclusive interview that “If they decided to annihilate the Daesh presence, they could do it within two hours.”Russian delegation met with Saudi Arabia Crown Prince to discuss Syrian crisisDaesh threat in the region can be purged within two hoursStressing the U.S’s military capacity and power to put an end to the Daesh threat Fireyah said, “The Deash terror organization only has control over in the villages of Hajir and Ishafa nationwide. There are about 1,500 Daesh terrorists in these two regions and this situation has not changed for 2 years. There was no operation against Daesh there. The U.S., due to its political strategy, ignored the presence of terror elements there. If they decide to annihilate the Daesh presence, they could do it within two hours,” Fireyah said.“The only justification of the U.S to legitimize its presence in the country is Daesh and Washington does not want to lose this trump card. The Assad regime has control over al-Bukemal, Jela, Salihiyye and Meyadin. On the other hand, Suvar, Ziban, Shiheyl, Abu Hamam and Baguz have the U.S-PKK terror elements. There is Daesh in the middle region,” he added.“The U.S has not allowed regime intervention for 2 years, nor has it finished off the presence of Daesh that consists of only two villages.”Daesh and PKK two peas in a pod“Daesh have been procuring all their needs from PYD-occupied areas. With the bombardments against Daesh, civilians are being hit. These attacks are being conducted for civilians to flee the area,” he concluded.PKK extorts money from Manbij locals in fear of looming Turkish opTurkish forces 'neutralize' 6 PKK terrorists in N.Iraq
US continues to arm PKK terrorists in Syria under the pretext of fighting Daesh
"We are currently working in the city’s Old Mosque district, where there appear to be 50 to 80 bodies," he said.
Noting that most of the bodies had been improperly buried, Hamish said that 30 of them had since been disinterred and were now being prepared for reburial.
Mahmoud Ahmad, who was forced to bury his child in the area, said his son was killed by a U.S. airstrike.
“We buried my son here when airstrikes were raining down on Raqqa and we couldn't take him to a proper cemetery,” Ahmad lamented.
He went on to recount how he and his family had fled Raqqa after the hasty burial of his son.
“We thought of it [his son’s burial] as a temporary solution. But upon our return, we encountered great difficulty finding the burial site again,” he said.
“There were only four people buried here back then; now there are more than 100,” he added.
In a report released last week, an activist group that documents atrocities in the city (dubbed "Raqqa is being slaughtered silently") stated: "Raqqa’s civil assembly received financial support from the [U.S.-led] coalition to find bodies, remove debris, and sweep for landmines and explosives.”
“But the assembly has does almost nothing regarding these issues," the report states, adding that some 3,000 bodies had so far been unearthed from the mass grave found near the city center.
At least three PKK terrorists were “neutralized” in an air operation carried out in northern Iraq on Thursday, according to the Turkish military.Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.The terrorists, who were preparing attacks on Turkish bases, were “neutralized” in Metina region, the Turkish General Staff said on Twitter.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.
Turkish forces 'neutralize' 3 PKK terrorists in N. Iraq
YPK/PKK terror
For the past year, the YPG/PKK has oppressed and terrorized Raqqa’s local population -- as it has in other areas under its control.
It has forcibly recruited civilians into its ranks and has prevented many local residents from rebuilding their homes, many of which were destroyed last year by intense coalition airstrikes.
The YPG/PKK, however, does not provide any public services, while residents accused of having links with the opposition frequently face arbitrary detention.
In a report published last December, the U.K.-based Syrian Network for Human Rights said a total of 2,323 civilians had been killed in Raqqa in the period from November 2016 to October 2017.