File photo
The Turkish Armed Forces' (TAF) air-backed operations, which were launched on March 11 against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in northern Iraq, has so far cleared 400 square kilometers of terror elements as the PKK’s so-called senior administrators flee the region.
Military establishes 11 bases along 23-kilometer border
Turkish soldiers have established 11 bases along the 23 kilometer-long border line, clearing terrorists and preventing possible infiltration of terrorists into Turkey.
The cross-border operations coordinated by the Second Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Ismail Metin Temel, and conducted by commando units located in southeastern Hakkari province's Yuksekova district have already neutralized 155 terrorists since March 11.
Additionally, the Turkish army’s Operation Olive Branch in Syria’s Afrin has neutralized 4,197 terrorists as operations in Iraq’s north to clear it of terror elements are ongoing.
Turkish jets destroyed terrorist shelters, hideouts, and weapons pits as part of anti-terror operations in northern Iraq on Thursday, the Turkish army said Friday.In a statement, the Turkish General Staff said airstrikes were carried out against northern Iraq's Zap, Hakurk and Mt. Qandil regions. As a result of the operations, shelters, hideouts, and weapons pits belonging to PKK terrorists were destroyed.Airstrikes on PKK targets in northern Iraq, where the terror group has its main base in the Mt. Qandil region, near the Iranian border, have been carried out regularly since July 2015, when the PKK resumed its armed campaign.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, including women and children.
Turkish army destroys terrorists' shelters in N. Iraq
Turkish army captures PKK terror camps
Northern Iraq's Hakurk, Armus camps as well as Avasin Basyan, Kani Rash, Bermize and Sidekan, known as the terror group PKK's so-called "rear guard logistic base," are now all under the control of Turkish soldiers.
The terror group's so-called ranking leaders have withdrawn from the above mentioned regions and fled to Mt. Qandil.
Turkish soldiers have also seized a number of explosives, ammunition and living materials during the operations, as they strongly retaliate against the terrorists' attacks.
Turkey is moving to eliminate the terror corridor through its cross-border operations. Operation Euphrates Shield, Operation Olive Branch and lastly the Qandil siege will strike a heavy blow to terror groups. The operations keys were revealed by Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ and Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu.
Two codes of the Qandil operation
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.
Turkish Armed Forces' air-backed operations, which were launched on March 11, against the PKK terror camps in northern Iraq has so far cleared 400 square kilometers of area and neutralized 155 terrorists.Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.Following a successful counterterrorism operation against the PKK/PYD in Syria under the scope of Operation Olive Branch, Turkish forces now continue their determined operations against terrorist camps in northern Iraq.On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to remove YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists from northwestern Syria's Afrin region.On March 18, Day 58 of the operation, Turkish troops and Free Syrian Army members liberated the town of Afrin while also neutralizing 4,497 terrorists.The cross border operations coordinated by the Second Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Ismail Metin Temel, and conducted by commando units located in southeastern Hakkari province's Yuksekova district have already neutralized 155 terrorists since March 11.Turkish soldiers have established 11 bases along the 23 kilometer-long border line, clearing terrorists and displaying an exemplary active combat against PKK terror group, 24/7, and preventing possible infiltration of terrorists into Turkey.Northern Iraq's Hakurk, Armus camps as well as Avasin Basyan, Kani Rash, Bermize and Sidekan, known as the terror group PKK's so-called "rear guard logistic base", are now all under the control of Turkish soldiers.Security sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to media restrictions, said the terror group's so-called ranking leaders have withdrawn from the above mentioned regions and fled to Mt. Qandil region.Turkish soldiers have also seized a number of explosives, ammunition and living goods during the operations, as the Turkish army strongly retaliates against the terrorists' attacks.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, including women and children.
Turkish army clears 400 sq km of Iraqi border region
Iftar meal hosted at Bursaya
An iftar dinner organized by the Kilis Governorate was hosted at Mt. Bursaya, which was cleared of terror elements as part of Turkey’s Afrin Operation. Lt. Gen. Temel as well as Kilis Governor Mehmet Tekinarslan attended, and shared conversation and a warm meal with the troops stationed at the base.
Turkey is planning to establish a 30-kilometer-deep corridor that is cleared of all terror elements extending from northern Syria all the way toward the Iranian borders, as operations targeting terrorists from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in northern Iraq continue to deal large blows to the terror group. Manbij is set to be the first step in establishing the “safe corridor” that extends from Idlib- Jarabulus- Bab and Azaz, and will encompass eastern Euphrates regions in Syria at a depth of 30- 40 kilometers along Turkey’s southern borders, until it converges with the safe zones created in northern Iraq.A large blow to PKK terrorSince March 2018, an operation named after a martyred soldier, Specialist Sergeant Gökhan Kurak, is ongoing in Turkish Iraq borders to maintain border security.During the operation, armed unmanned air vehicles, air and ground forces are being used to eliminate terrorists and destroy their hideouts.The military has also ensured influence over an area of 30 kilometers inside Iraq’s territory, which is considered as the “First step toward Qandil.”The second phase is a Qandil operation to be carried out in cooperation with Iraq and Iran.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.Work is underway to establish military bases in the regions cleared of PKK terror in order to ensure lasting peace and security in the area, and provide communication with regions where bases had already been established.Turkish airstrikes killed six PKK terrorists and destroyed 16 targets in northern Iraq, the General Staff said Wednesday.According to a General Staff statement, the airstrikes include terror camps regions of northern Iraq such as Hakurk, Gara, Metina, Zap, Qandil, and Avaşin Basyan, among others. Currently, two Turkish army brigades are taking part in the operations carried out in northern Iraq, in addition to the brigades in Turkey’s southern provinces, Hakkari and Şırnak, which carried out highly-effective campaigns.At the breaking pointTurkey’s domestically-produced recon and combat drones played a large part in the successful blow dealt to the terror organization in southeastern Turkey and northern Iraq, which resulted in disrupting 80 percent of the PKK’s logistical resources following ongoing operations in the region.The operations also helped bring the participation and support of the PKK among local population to a breaking point and helped minimize the terror group’s financial sources, which it obtains through exerting tolls on the region’s impoverished population. Operations also helped dry the terror group’s drug trade, which is a main source of income for the PKK. A large blow was also dealt after a large number of high-ranking PKK terrorists were neutralized as a result of the ongoing operations, disrupting and weakening the group’s ability to reproduce a leadership structure.Iraq launches air strike against Daesh in SyriaMt. Qandil not distant target anymore says Turkish min.Qandil is within reachTurkey's interior minister on Wednesday said an anti-terror operation in northern Iraq's mountainous Qandil region is not a distant target for Turkey.In an interview to Turkish channel NTV Süleyman Soylu said: "Diyarbakır is not free as long as Qandil stands there," referring to a possible PKK terrorist attack.He said that Turkish forces were forming a line some 27 kilometers from the border in northern Iraq.Soylu also noted that Turkey has a very high level of technological capability, human resources, unmanned aerial vehicles and intelligence to carry out the operation."Turkey now with its capacity can launch an operation wherever and whenever it wants," Soylu added. Airstrikes on PKK targets in northern Iraq, where the terror group has its main base in the Mt. Qandil region, near the Iranian border, have been carried out regularly since July 2015, when the PKK resumed its armed campaign.US defense secretary comments on Syria's Manbij talks
Turkey to establish ‘safe corridor’ between Syria, Iran borders
Turkey's interior minister on Wednesday said an anti-terror operation in northern Iraq's mountainous Qandil region is not a distant target for Turkey.In an interview to Turkish channel NTV Suleyman Soylu said: "Diyarbakir is not free as long as Qandil stands there," referring to a possible PKK terrorist attack.Soylu noted that Turkey has a very high level of technological capability, human resources, unmanned aerial vehicles and intelligence to carry out the operation."Turkey now with its capacity can launch an operation wherever and whenever it wants," Soylu added.Airstrikes on PKK targets in northern Iraq, where the terror group has its main base in the Mt. Qandil region, near the Iranian border, have been carried out regularly since July 2015, when the PKK resumed its armed campaign.Also on Wednesday, speaking to state news channel TRT Haber, Mahir Unal, ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party’s spokesman, said the operation has extended all the way to the outskirts of Mt. Qandil."Tens of PKK camps were destroyed. Tens of new bases were established. Qandil will be cleared of this vile PKK terrorist organization," Unal 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 death of some 40,000 people, including women and children.
Mt. Qandil not distant target anymore says Turkish min.