Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
A number of senior terrorists from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) were killed in the aftermath of a Turkish airstrike against the northern Iraqi region of Qandil, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday.
“We carried out our first operation in Qandil using 20 jets, struck 10 important targets and took care of their leading unit in a second airstrike while they convened for a meeting,” revealed Erdoğan.
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.
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said on Wednesday that Turkey will carry out an operation against Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorists in northern Iraq’s Qandil region. Addressing crowds during a campaign stop for the upcoming June 24 elections, Yıldırım said that Turkey will clear the region from terrorists, pointing to the success of the Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch operations. “We will collapse it over their heads, we vowed to do that,” Yıldırıım said in reference to northern Iraq’s Qandil region.Turkish army begins second round of patrols in Syria's ManbijManbij roadmap’s route revealedNorthern 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.Listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU, the PKK has waged a wide-ranging terror campaign against the Turkish state since the mid-1980s, in which an estimated 40,000 people have been killed.
Qandil operation is next, says Turkish PM
Speaking during a campaign stop for the upcoming elections in Şanlıurfa, Erdoğan pointed that the worst was over, noting that “very little is left,” in reference to the ongoing cross-border operations in neighboring Iraq and Syria.
“They replaced one terror organization with another right along Urfa’s borders. Those who didn’t feel safe when Daesh was there yesterday are not feeling safe today, and for that reason they’re not returning home. Turkey first secured the area from Jarabulus to al-Bab, then to Afrin. Two hundred thousand of our Syrian brothers and sisters returned to this region.”
Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch on Jan. 20, 2018 in Syria’s northwestern region of Afrin to eradicate the area of terrorists belonging to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)’s Syrian offshoot, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), following Turkey’s seven-month Euphrates Shield Operation which succeeded in clearing large swathes of Syrian territory from Daesh.
“Now we secured Manbij through an agreement with the U.S. Our Arab brothers from Manbij did not go back, now they will. We’re taking steps to secure Idlib by establishing 12 observational posts in the region.”
Turkish army vehicles were spotted entering Syria's Manbij from the town of Jarabulus, the area spanning Turkey's Operation Euphrates Shield. The joint U.S. and Turkish forces carried out patrols in an area overlooking the U.S. base in Syria's countryside of Dadat.
Turkish Armed Forces start second patrol in Syria’s Manbij
The Manbij roadmap was first announced after a meeting in Washington between Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
The deal focuses on the withdrawal of the PKK-affiliated YPG terror group from the northern Syrian city and ensuring stability in the region.
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.
The largest tribe in the northern Syrian city of Manbij said on Tuesday it supports the Turkish troops patrolling the region and expects the U.S. to fulfill its commitment.In a statement, Elbubanna said: “We are following closely the implementation of the Manbij roadmap reached by Turkey and the U.S."We as the biggest tribe in Manbij support the patrolling of Turkish troops, which will play a major role in ensuring stability and security, on behalf of all our members inside and outside Manbij and on behalf of all free tribes.“The U.S. is required to fulfill its commitment to withdraw all YPG/PKK terrorists from Manbij to east of the Euphrates so that people who escaped from Manbij are able to return to their home."The U.S. should establish a civilian government that manages the region by consolidating the whole community in Manbij, takes care of private property, and respects the freedom and traditions of the people."Turkey to continue destroying PKK strongholds in QandilThe Manbij roadmap was announced after a June 4 meeting in Washington between Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.The deal focuses on the withdrawal of the PKK-affiliated YPG terror group from the northern Syrian city of Manbij and on stability in the region.Should the model prove a success, Turkey has said it will push for a similar arrangement in eastern Syria.
Largest tribe in Manbij back Turkish patrol forces
Turkey will continue striking down PKK terrorists in northern Iraq's Mt. Qandil, a major terror hideout, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Tuesday."We have destroyed and will continue destroying the separatist [PKK] terrorist organization's strongholds in [Mt.] Qandil," Erdogan said at his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party’s election rally in southern Adana province.Airstrikes on PKK targets in northern Iraq have been carried out regularly since July 2015, when the PKK resumed its decades-long armed campaign.In recent days, Turkish officials have suggested that the Mt. Qandil region in northern Iraq near the Iranian border -- where the terrorist group has its headquarters -- may be the target of a future operation.Turkish PM: US Senate bill not to affect F35 deliveryThe PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey as well as the U.S. and the EU.In its terror campaign against Turkey, which has lasted for more than three decades, over 40,000 people have been killed, including women and children.
Turkey to continue destroying PKK strongholds in Qandil