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The PKK terrorist group continues to recruit children by force in Iraq’s northern Sinjar district, an Iraqi tribal spokesman said on Monday.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Muhasim al-Huwaysi, a spokesman for the Arab tribes in Mosul, said more than 100 children have been kidnapped by the terrorist group in Sinjar.
"After being trained, those children are sent to fight alongside YPG/PKK forces,” he said.
According to the spokesman, the kidnapped children hail to various ethnic groups in the area.
Huwaysi said the terrorist group has dug more than 150 tunnels in Sinjar.
Turkish security forces have "neutralized" 32 terrorists on its soil and abroad over the past week, the country’s Defense Ministry said in a statement on Friday.Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralize" in their statements to imply that the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.It said two Turkish soldiers were also wounded in counterterrorism operations from Nov. 30- Dec. 6.The statement said operations against the PKK/KCK terror group in Turkey's southeastern Diyarbakir, Tunceli, Sanliurfa and Sirnak continued.A total of 12 infantry rifles, an anti-tank weapon and 2,727 ammunition were seized in the operations.In operations at border areas, 264 kilograms of narcotics and 900 liters of smuggled fuel were also seized during the same 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 deaths of nearly 40,000 people.
Turkey ‘neutralizes’ 32 terrorists over past week
"These tunnels are located near Sinjar Mountain and district center,” he said, adding that the PKK was storing weapons in these tunnels.
“The PKK terrorists also use these places to take shelter in case of an attack," he said.
According to the spokesman, the PKK has five camps in Sinjar, each of which has around 1,000 militants.
Huwaysi called on Turkey to intervene to clear the area from PKK terrorists.
"We, as leaders of Mosul's Arab tribes, approve Turkey's intervention to put an end to the PKK actions in the region," he said.
"The terrorists constantly switch between Sinjar and Syria," he said, adding that there was weapons trafficking trade across border areas.
Turkish defense minister on Friday renewed Ankara’s demand from the U.S. to cut ties with YPG/PKK terrorist organization in Turkey.According to a statement from Turkish Defense Ministry, Hulusi Akar met U.S.’s envoy for Syria James Jeffrey in the capital Ankara.“The U.S. should cut ties with YPG which is no different from the PKK and the U.S. should also call off its plan to set up observation points in northern Syria,” Akar told Jeffrey.Turkey's cultural expenditure on rise in 2017Turkey eyes more Turkish Trade Centers abroadThe statement said the two dignitaries discussed regional issues -- including recent developments in Syria’s Manbij and Idlib – and bilateral relations.Akar pointed out that giving weapons and ammunition to the terrorist YPG via trucks and airplanes doesn’t fit with the understanding of alliance with the U.S.“We will never allow a terror corridor in the south of our country,” the Turkish defense minister added.The U.S. has claimed the YPG/PKK is an “ally” in the fight against Daesh, over Turkey’s objections that you cannot use one terrorist group to fight another. Turkey has repeatedly cited evidence that the YPG is no different from the PKK.The YPG is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK, a terrorist group recognized by Turkey, the U.S., and EU, which in its 30-year terror campaign has taken some 40,000 lives.Turkey to inaugurate largest mosque in Djibouti in FebruaryTurkey records largest fall in terrorism across Europe
Cut ties with YPG/PKK terrorists, Turkey tells US
Huwaysi said the PKK was forcefully collecting money at various checkpoints erected by the terrorist group in the area.
In mid-2014, the PKK sent fighters to Sinjar -- from Syria and Iraq’ northeastern Qandil region -- on the pretext that it was protecting Ezidis from the Daesh terrorist group.
But even though the region was later cleared of Daesh terrorists, the PKK has continued its expansionist policies in the area.
In October of last year, the Iraqi government sent federal troops into parts of northern Iraq “disputed” between it and the Kurdish Regional Government -- including Sinjar.
After federal forces moved into Sinjar, the PKK falsely claimed to have withdrawn from the region.
The 15th International Conference on "the European Union, Turkey, the Middle East and the Kurds" held in the European Parliament in Brussels was nothing more than the public showcasing of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States.The conference was attended by İbrahim Bilmez, the lawyer of PKK ringleader Abdullah Öcalan, among other terror supporters. Another PKK leader Zübeyir Aydar, who is on Turkey’s wanted list, was one of the speakers of the conference, however he was denied entry because of his harsh criticism of Turkey and his diplomatic efforts.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.Turkey records largest fall in terrorism across EuropePlatform for accusationsHuman Rights Association head Öztürk Türkdoğan accused Turkey of not abiding by its own laws in an effort to defend Öcalan. The association’s Istanbul head Gülseren Yoleri absurdly stated that everyone on the streets of Turkey was at risk of being tortured.“We have heard claims that it is as if they hid torture instruments from the 80s and have started to use them again,” Yoleri said.Öcalan’s lawyer Bilmez used the conference at the European Parliament to spread PKK propaganda.“Turkey is no longer a state of law,” Bilmez said, claiming that Öcalan was in solitary confinement in İmralı prison.Dr. Gianni Tognoni, the general secretary of the Permanent People’s Tribunal, went so far as to call Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan a “dictator.”“Turkey has become a geopolitical problem for Europe. But nobody is causing a fuss about what is going on,” Dr. Tognoni said. Former senior US advisor calls on West to ‘intervene’ in Syria against Turkey
EU showcases PKK terror group in parliament
At least eight PKK terrorists, preparing for an attack on Turkish bases, were "neutralized" in air operations carried out in northern Iraq, the army said on Thursday.Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralize" in their statements to imply that the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.Turkish jets also pounded terrorist hideouts in Sinat-Haftanin, Metina and Hakurk regions, the military said in a tweet.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.Turkey 'neutralizes' 515 PKK terrorists in 2018 autumnTurkish jets 'neutralize' 4 PKK terrorists in N. Iraq
Turkish jets 'neutralize' 8 PKK terrorists in N Iraq
Turkish security forces neutralized 515 YPG/PKK terrorists over the last three months in counterterrorism operations at home and abroad.“Neutralize” is the word Turkish authorities often use in their statements to imply that the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.Between Sept. 1 and Nov. 30, 17 security guards were martyred in YPG/PKK terror attacks.The attacks also left three civilians dead and six others injured.Nearly 1,400 PKK suspects -- including former deputy and mayors of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), an opposition party in Turkish parliament, -- were detained during anti-terror operations across Turkey. A total of 347 suspects were jailed.Turkish jets 'neutralize' 4 PKK terrorists in N. IraqSenior YPG/PKK terrorists among neutralizedSenior terror operatives in the terror group including many on the wanted list of Turkey’s Interior Ministry have been neutralized in operations within and beyond Turkish borders.The wanted list is divided into five color-coded categories, with red as the most wanted, followed by blue, green, orange and grey.Deniz Yuksel, codenamed Haki, who was sought on the green category of the list, was neutralized in southeastern Diyarbakir province.Fatih Ozden, codenamed Bager Andok, was neutralized during a counterterrorism operation in the southeastern Hakkari's Yuksekova district on Sept. 3.Turkey approves prison sentences for HDP’s Demirtaş, ÖnderOzden, one of the so-called heads of the terrorist group, was in the red category of the Interior Ministry's wanted list.Mehmet Y., a convicted member of the PKK terror group, was arrested by Interpol in Bulgaria upon Turkey’s request on Sept. 5.A total of nine YPG/PKK terrorists, who were behind the attack that martyred two Turkish soldiers during Operation Olive Branch in northern Syria, were brought to Turkey on Sept. 14.The terrorists were caught in a joint operation by Turkish National Intelligence Service (MIT) and the Turkish gendarmerie forces in Syria's Afrin city.They were involved in Jan. 23, 2018 terror attack in Rajo area of Afrin that left Lt. Oguz Kaan Usta and Specialist Sergeant Mehmet Muratdagi martyred.Turkey strikes blow to YPG/PKK at home, abroad in Nov.The terrorists had taken away with them the body of the lieutenant which could only be found after 58 days.Murat Akdogan, codenamed Ali Gever, who was marked orange in the Interior Ministry list, was neutralized during an operation in northern Iraq on Sept. 15.Also, Sabri Kartal -- who was on the grey list -- was arrested in an operation in Yuksekova on Sept. 16.Terrorists neutralized in OctoberOn Oct. 9, the police arrested a senior PKK/KCK member, identified as Devlet Aslan, in cooperation with the National Intelligence Service, in the southeastern province of Batman.Aslan is reportedly among the so-called heads of the terrorist group’s Belgium branch.Turkey 'neutralizes' 14 terrorists over past weekSerbest Paksoy, codenamed Rezan, and Selcuk Kose, codenamed Mahir Botan, were neutralized on Oct. 11 at Mt. Gabar of the southeastern Sirnak province.Yusuf Tunc, who was in the grey category of the Interior Ministry list, was killed on Oct. 17 in a counterterrorism operation in the southeastern Adiyaman province.Known by the initials K.B., a PKK terrorist who killed security guard Mehmet Paksoy in 2017, was arrested during an operation in the Uludere district of Sirnak on Oct. 24.Turkish security forces arrested Emrah Nayci, the terror group's so-called senior representative of Gabar, in an operation in the rural areas of Sirnak on Oct. 31.Terrorists neutralized in NovemberIlyas Karakoc, codenamed Baran Amed Kino, was revealed to be among the four terrorists who were neutralized in the rural part of the Lice district in Diyarbakir on Nov. 1.PKK terrorist Selim Demiroglu, codenamed Firat Celi, was neutralized on Nov. 3 in Sirnak.Terrorist Ali Akbas, codenamed Zinar Amed, who had a 300,000 Turkish liras ($57,400) bounty on his head, was killed in an operation in the eastern Mus province on Nov. 27.Muhammed Kaya, who martyred Gendarme commander Mj. Arslan Kulaksiz in 2015, was also neutralized in the same operation.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.The YPG is its Syrian branch.
Turkey 'neutralizes' 515 PKK terrorists in 2018 autumn