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Terrorists from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) have kidnapped 17 families who were visiting their relatives for Eid, one of the most important holidays in the Muslim calendar, in Syria’s Tal Abyad, Manbij and Raqqa regions, according to reports.
The reason behind the abduction of civilians is their admiration for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and having photos of him on their mobile phones.
Speaking to Yeni Safak daily, 25-year-old Rima said that her mother and two siblings were detained while travelling to visit her uncle, and added that “PKK terrorists, after checking their phones, had seen that they liked Erdogan’s photos on social media. They are not allowing them to leave Manbij. We are worried about them.”
Assad regime kidnaps three civilians
Pro-Assad Shabbiha forces also kidnapped three civilians visiting their families for the Eid feast in Aleppo, including a female lawyer, accusing them of supporting Erdogan on social media platforms.
Families of the victims who spoke to Yeni Şafak said, “They went to Aleppo to visit relatives but were detained with the charges of supporting Erdogan and are being interrogated and tortured in a center belonging to the Mukhabarat Jawiyyeh [Syrian air force intelligence services].”
Turkish airstrikes have "neutralized" four PKK terrorists in northern Iraq, the General Staff said Monday.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 post on Twitter, the Turkish General Staff said fighter jets had conducted airstrikes on Monday in northern Iraq’s Zap-Avasin Basyan regions.Turkish jets neutralize eight PKK terroristsTurkish army conducts 7th round of patrols in ManbijIn recent days, Turkish officials have suggested that the Mt. Qandil region -- where the terrorist group has its headquarters -- may be the target of a future 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 death of some 40,000 people.
Turkish airstrikes in north Iraq kill four PKK terrorists
PKK and Shabbiha forces extract heavy tolls
Abu Naim, who has visited his family in Aleppo on holidays for the last two years, said that they paid PKK terrorists a great deal of money for their travels from Azaz to Aleppo.
“Last year, we were travelling using the Afrin route; this year we changed it to Manbij,” he added.
“At a check point established in the Ta'ana district, they detained my nephew when seeing Erdogan’s photos on his phone. Along the route, security is provided by the looting Shabbiha forces and PKK terrorists.
“We haven’t had any news from my 17-year-old nephew who was detained on the way back. Officials in Aleppo say they have no such a prisoner.”
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.