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New testimonies shed light on the extent of rampant child abuse among the ranks of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorist organization in northern Iraq.
The testimonies, given by PKK terrorists who had surrendered to Turkish authorities, reveal scandalous details surrounding the terror group’s sexual abuse of young girls in the so-called “child battalion” in the Zap region of northern Iraq.
The battalion, formed by the PKK, is made up of close to 30 children aged between nine and 14.
According to the testimonies, a number of the girls in the group were raped, and those who fall pregnant are brought to the nearest hospital and made to undergo abortions despite the enormous risks to their lives.
At least four terrorists who were plotting terror attacks were "neutralized" in Turkey's eastern and southeastern provinces, local authorities and security sources said on Thursday.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 statement by the governor’s office of eastern Tunceli province, two terrorists were neutralized in counter-terrorism operation held in the rural areas of Mazgirt district by provincial gendarmerie forces.The statement by the governor’s office did not specify the terror groups involved but Turkey is embroiled in a long-running struggle against the PKK terror group in the area.Separately, two PKK terrorists were also "neutralized" in southeastern Sirnak province, said security sources who asked to remain anonymous due to media restrictions.Out of the two terrorists, one was captured alive while the other was killed during the operation. The captured terrorist was identified to be an Iranian national and responsible of terrorist group's Farasin region.Operations in the region are ongoing, the sources said.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 jets destroy PKK terror targets in N. Iraq
Four terrorists 'neutralized' in eastern Turkey
Turkish warplanes have destroyed several PKK terror targets in northern Iraq as part of an anti-terror operation, the military said on Thursday.In a post on Twitter, the Turkish General Staff said the airstrikes were conducted in Hakurk, Avasin-Basyan, Sinath-Haftanin, Metina and Qandil regions of northern Iraq on Wednesday.Weapon emplacements and shelters used by terrorists were destroyed during the operation, the statement added.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 40,000 people, including women and children.Turkey remands two more YPG/PKK terrorists in SyriaPKK terror group trades drugs for arms: report
Turkish jets destroy PKK terror targets in N. Iraq
Girls unable to cope with the trauma of what they experienced are said to regularly attempt suicide.
Another terrorist, who defected from the PKK terrorist organization for these inhumane practices, admitted to witnessing sexual abuse of underage girls, some of whom would later commit suicide or be executed by the terror group.
These types of horrific practices are said to have significantly increased the defection rate among the ranks of the PKK and contributed to so-called Qandil leaders losing their influence within the terror group.
Northern Iraq’s Qandil Mountains have been a haven for PKK terrorists over the past few decades. Considered as the main base of the PKK, which control checkpoints and entrances to the mountains, the structuring in the area is used for cover and concealment by terrorists.
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.