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PKK terrorists killed one and wounded 20 more in an attack against civilians who wouldn’t speak out against Turkey in Syria's Qara Qozak located in Manbij where the tomb of Suleyman Shah, the grandfather of the Ottoman Empire’s founder, will be relocated.
Simultaneously to the attack in Manbij, the PKK bombed the Jarabulus region by using two explosive-laden vehicles and also sent assassins to Syria’s Afrin region, which the Turkish Armed Forces had purged from terror elements.
“There is a clear consensus [with the U.S.] on our roadmap that we will move on to other areas after Manbij [has been cleared of PKK/YPG terrorists], Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Friday.
The roadmap was announced last month after a meeting in Washington between Çavuşoğlu and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
The deal focuses on the withdrawal of the PKK-affiliated YPG terror group from Manbij and stability in the region.
A total of 4,519 terrorists have been “neutralized” since the start of the Turkey-led Operation Olive Branch in Syria's Afrin region, according to the Turkish army on Friday.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 weekly statement, the Turkish General Staff said 54 Turkish soldiers have also been martyred while 236 others were injured during the operation in Afrin.Also, 247 mines and 1,301 improvised explosives were destroyed during the operation.Turkey, US agree on clearing Syrian regions of PKKTurkey on Jan. 20 launched Operation Olive Branch to remove YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin. On March 18, Turkish troops and Free Syrian Army liberated the Afrin district center.According to the Turkish General Staff, the operation aims to establish security and stability along Turkey’s borders and the region as well as to protect Syrians from the oppression and cruelty of terrorists.Separately, the Turkish army said it had neutralized 49 terrorists during anti-terror operations in Turkey and northern Iraq over the last week.The operations were conducted in the southeastern Kahramanmaras, Sirnak, Hakkari, Diyarbakir, Mardin and eastern Agri provinces, as well as in northern Iraq between June 29 and July 5, it added.Security forces neutralize 22 PKK terrorists in SE TurkeyDuring the anti-terror operations, 15 weapons including infantry rifles and flame throwers were seized; eight weapon emplacements and shelters were also destroyed.The statement also said four soldiers were injured within this period.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.Turkey arrests wanted PKK terrorist deported by NorwayThe PYD/YPG are Syrian branches of the terrorist PKK and the focus of Turkey's successful counter-terrorist Operation Olive Branch in Afrin, Syria, near the border with Turkey.The statement also said Turkish and the U.S. army had conducted 10 separate coordinated patrols in the area between the Operation Euphrates Shield region and Manbij since June 18, when the first patrols by Turkish and U.S. troops in the region began.A deal between Turkey and the U.S. has focused on the withdrawal of the PKK-affiliated YPG terror group from Manbij in order to stabilize the region.German intelligence calls PKK, PYD 'sister' groups
Turkey neutralizes over 4,500 terrorists in Afrin: Army
Turkey and the U.S. agree that other Syrian regions will be rid of PKK/YPG terrorists after the northern city of Manbij is cleared, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoglu said on Friday.Speaking at Anadolu Agency’s Editors' Desk, Cavusoglu said: “There is a clear statement on our roadmap [with U.S.] that we will move on to other areas after Manbij [has been cleared of PKK/YPG terrorists].“These were discussed and evaluated in our working group meetings and we reached a consensus on this subject.”The roadmap was announced last month after a meeting in Washington between Cavusoglu and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The deal focuses on the withdrawal of the PKK-affiliated YPG terror group from Manbij and bringing stability to the region.About the Turkish army patrols in Manbij, Cavusoglu said the withdrawal of YPG/PKK from patrol areas in Manbij did not mean it had completely withdrawn from the area. On Wednesday, the Turkish military completed its ninth round of patrols in Manbij as part of a deal with the U.S. to rid the area of the YPG/PKK terror group.On its Twitter account, the Turkish General Staff said both countries' forces conducted separate coordinated patrols in the area between Manbij and the area previously cleared during Turkey’s Operation Euphrates Shield. The first patrols by Turkish and U.S. troops in the region began on June 18.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK has taken some 40,000 lives, including those of women and children. The YPG/PKK is its Syrian branch.Referring to the recent counter-terrorism operations in northern Iraq, Cavusoglu said: “Our cooperation will further strengthen after a government is established in Iraq and we will do what is necessary for PKK terror group to be cleared from Iraqi territories.”Turkish army conducts 10th round of patrols in ManbijOnce Manbij is cleared of PKK/YPG, eastern Euphrates to follow: Turkish FMFight against FETOEarly June, Turkish Armed Forces launched fresh counter-terrorism operations in northern Iraq's Qandil Mountain region, a known PKK stronghold.About the fight against Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), Cavusoglu said: “We will see how seriously they [U.S.] will take it after everything is put on the table. The U.S. should not lose its ally like Turkey.”Urging the U.S. to give up its “wrong policies” against Ankara, he urged the Washington administration to fulfill Turkey’s demands against FETO. According to the Turkish government, FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.About how bilateral ties might get affected if the U.S. imposes sanctions on Turkey due to its S-400 purchase, the foreign minister said: "The U.S. administration will make the decision. The administration does not want to harm relations with Turkey."Especially, [Donald] Trump himself does not want to harm relations with Turkey. He, in real terms, respects our Mr. President.”Under an accelerated timetable for the S-400 deal, Russia's first deliveries of the advanced anti-aircraft missile system to Turkey are due in late 2019 or early 2020.About Turkish-Israeli relations, Cavusoglu said Israel was maintaining an aggressive attitude towards Turkey.Relations with Israel“Israeli should cease its wrong policies and merciless cruelty, which is incompatible with humanity, in order to normalize our relations with Israel in real terms,” he said.On Turkish national Ebru Ozkan’s arrest in Tel Aviv, Cavusoglu said: “They [Israel] have been taking steps to deter our citizens from visiting Jerusalem. We will respond to this.” An Israeli military court on Tuesday extended the detention of Ozkan, who had been under arrest since June 11 for alleged links with terrorist groups, the lawyer said.On U.S. withdrawal from Iran nuclear deal, Cavusoglu said: “We don’t find the U.S. decisions on sanctions on Iran right.”In May, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the nuclear deal, which was signed in 2015 between Iran and the P5 1 group of nations (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany). The deal placed restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for billions of dollars in sanctions relief.He said Iran should not be forced into a corner since it would be "dangerous and risky”.Cavusoglu added the U.S. decision against Iran had been taken upon Israeli demand and had no justification.Also, on Austria’s taking over of the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union from Bulgaria on July 1, the foreign minister said: “We also do not expect Austria to take a radical decision.”Austria assumed the presidency for the third time after its terms in 1998 and 2006.
Turkey, US agree on clearing Syrian regions of PKK
The Turkish military on Friday completed its 10th round of patrolling in the northern Syrian city of Manbij as part of a deal with the U.S. to rid the area of the terror group YPG/PKK.In a message posted on its official Twitter account, the Turkish General Staff said that both countries' forces conducted separate coordinated patrols in the area between the Operation Euphrates Shield region and Manbij.The first patrols by both Turkish and U.S. troops in the region began on June 18.The Manbij deal between Turkey and the U.S. focuses on the withdrawal of the PKK-affiliated YPG terror group from the city in order to stabilize the region.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK has taken some 40,000 lives, including those of women and children. The YPG/PKK is its Syrian branch.Should the Manbij model prove to be a success, Turkey will push for a similar arrangement in eastern Syria.Turkey has said the presence of terror forces near its border constitute a threat and has launched military operations and other efforts to rid the region of terrorists.
Turkish army conducts 10th round of patrols in Manbij
PKK terrorists afraid of being purged from the region
Evaluating the attacks, Free Syrian Army Commander Zekeriya Karslı said, “The PKK is provoking civilians. They are using every possible tactic to prevent the relocation of the Suleyman Shah tomb,” he stated.
When the tomb is relocated, the PKK terrorists’ transition to the east of the Euphrates will become further arduous.
He also added that Turkey's Chief of Staff Hulusi Akar’s visit to the tomb was a clear message to the PKK.
“The place of the tomb has strategic importance for the PKK. If the tomb is moved to Qara Qozak, the Manbij- Ayn al-Arab line will be under threat for them,” said Karslı.
In 2015, the Turkish military relocated the tomb of Süleyman Shah, the grandfather of the Ottoman Empire’s founder, from Syria’s Qara Qozak region in Manbij to the Ashme village of Aleppo, which is located near Turkey’s border, to protect it from the threats posed by the PKK and Daesh terror groups.
Security measures have been tightened in Manbij and Jarabulus following the attacks.
The Turkish military on Friday completed its tenth round of patrolling in the northern Syrian city of Manbij as part of the deal with the U.S. to rid the area of the YPG/PKK terror group.
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.