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The Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) destroyed shelters, fighting holes and armories used by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in an air operation conducted in northern Iraq on Wednesday.
The operation targeted northern Iraq’s Sinat, Haftanin, Metina and Gara areas, said a statement publish on the Turkish Armed Forces’ official Twitter account.
Airstrikes on PKK targets in northern Iraq have been carried out regularly since July 2015, when the PKK resumed its decades-long armed campaign.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi has called for the disarmament of the PKK terrorist group, along with all armed groups operating in the country. At a Tuesday press conference held in Baghdad, al-Abadi said his government wanted to see the “complete disarmament” of all armed groups operating in Iraq, especially the PKK.He went on to note that his cabinet, at a weekly meeting on Tuesday, had also discussed the security situation along Iraq’s borders with Turkey and Iran.Earlier this month, the Turkish Armed Forces launched fresh counter-terrorism operations in northern Iraq's Qandil Mountain region, a known PKK stronghold.The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU.During the group’s three-decade terror campaign against Turkey, over 40,000 people -- including women and children -- have been killed.
Iraqi PM calls for disarmament of PKK terrorist 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 -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- waged a terror campaign against Turkey for more than 30 years and has been responsible for the death of nearly 40,000 people.
The U.S. and Turkey have concluded a roadmap for the northern Syrian city of Manbij, a senior official from the Trump administration said Tuesday."We concluded a roadmap with Turkey, and our discussions with them have been fruitful and productive, and we look forward to those to continue," Brett McGurk, the special U.S. presidential envoy for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS [Daesh], said at the Political Director's Meeting of the Global Coalition To Defeat ISIS in Morocco."We are grateful for that cooperation," he added.McGurk also praised the work the two countries have done to deescalate tensions, particularly around Manbij.The 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 Manbij and on stability in the region.The Turkish General Staff said in a statement Sunday that the two countries' forces conducted patrols separately in the area between the Operation Euphrates Shield region in northern Syria and Manbij according to the roadmap.Trump, Erdoğan agree to improve ties after Turkish leader's re-electionTurkish, US army conduct 5th round of patrols in ManbijThe first patrols by Turkish and U.S. troops in the region began June 18.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK has taken some 40,000 lives, including those of women and children. The YPG/PKK is its Syrian branch.Turkey has said the presence of terror forces near its border constitute a threat and has launched military operations and other efforts to rid the region of terrorists.
Talks on Manbij roadmap fruitful, productive: McGurk
Separately, Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar, in a statement, praised the Turkish Land Forces’ efforts to preserve Turkey’s interests and to contribute to global peace and stability in three continents, from Afghanistan to Kosovo, from Bosnia- Herzegovina to Qatar, and from Lebanon to Somalia.
“The Land Forces will continue to fulfill any task it is assigned, as it has done so far, and will continue to be a source of pride for our noble nation,” he said.
Akar’s statement came on the anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Land Forces.