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The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terror group knows it cannot hold the regions under its occupation in Syria, relying only on the U.S.’s political and diplomatic prowess to “block a possible operation” by Turkey, according to a prominent defector from the terror group.
Speaking exclusively to Yeni Şafak daily, Talal Sillo, who served for two years as the terror group’s spokesman, said that a Turkish operation in the east of the Euphrates River is the PKK’s “worst nightmare.”
Sillo, a former high-ranking commander and spokesperson of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) who defected from the terrorist group last month, is currently in Turkey.
He divulged details of the U.S. arming terrorist groups in the region and what some U.S. officials thought about the PKK/PYD's presence in northern Syria.
Over Turkey’s objections, the U.S. has provided the PKK/PYD with arms, calling it an ally in the fight against Daesh, ignoring its status as a terrorist group, he stated.
He also explained how the PKK-terrorist dominated force was formed and how the U.S. made a controversial deal to allow Daesh terrorists to leave the city of Raqqah before it was liberated.
The old structure will be liquidated
Sillo said that the U.S.’s true intentions behind placing a $12-million bounty over the heads of so-called PKK commanders Murat Karayılan, Duran Kalkan and Cemil Bayık are very clear.
“It was to send a message inside the terror group to move Shahin Cilo into the spotlight. Abdullah Öcalan sent the U.S. a message through his lawyers, saying ‘Shahin Cilo is my successor. If you want to maintain presence in the region for the long term, your task is to protect him.’ Thus, the PKK’s center will be Syria from now on and the old structure will be liquidated by the U.S.”
The PKK terrorist group continues to recruit children by force in Iraq’s northern Sinjar district, an Iraqi tribal spokesman said on Monday.Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Muhasim al-Huwaysi, a spokesman for the Arab tribes in Mosul, said more than 100 children have been kidnapped by the terrorist group in Sinjar."After being trained, those children are sent to fight alongside YPG/PKK forces,” he said.According to the spokesman, the kidnapped children hail to various ethnic groups in the area.Huwaysi said the terrorist group has dug more than 150 tunnels in Sinjar.Turkey ‘neutralizes’ 32 terrorists over past week"These tunnels are located near Sinjar Mountain and district center,” he said, adding that the PKK was storing weapons in these tunnels.“The PKK terrorists also use these places to take shelter in case of an attack," he said.According to the spokesman, the PKK has five camps in Sinjar, each of which has around 1,000 militants.Huwaysi called on Turkey to intervene to clear the area from PKK terrorists."We, as leaders of Mosul's Arab tribes, approve Turkey's intervention to put an end to the PKK actions in the region," he said."The terrorists constantly switch between Sinjar and Syria," he said, adding that there was weapons trafficking trade across border areas.Cut ties with YPG/PKK terrorists, Turkey tells USHuwaysi said the PKK was forcefully collecting money at various checkpoints erected by the terrorist group in the area.In mid-2014, the PKK sent fighters to Sinjar -- from Syria and Iraq’ northeastern Qandil region -- on the pretext that it was protecting Ezidis from the Daesh terrorist group.But even though the region was later cleared of Daesh terrorists, the PKK has continued its expansionist policies in the area.In October of last year, the Iraqi government sent federal troops into parts of northern Iraq “disputed” between it and the Kurdish Regional Government -- including Sinjar.After federal forces moved into Sinjar, the PKK falsely claimed to have withdrawn from the region.EU showcases PKK terror group in parliamentTurkish jets 'neutralize' 8 PKK terrorists in N IraqTurkey 'neutralizes' 515 PKK terrorists in 2018 autumn
PKK continues to recruit children in Iraq’s Sinjar
U.S. trained 50,000 PKK terrorists
The U.S. trained 50,000 terrorists in areas occupied by the PKK in Syria, pointed Silo.
“However, this patchwork army can be dispersed through a small intervention. The SDF is only the banner and the 35,000 of those trained by the U.S are Arabs. They won’t show any resistance. Because Arabs know they’re being used. They trust neither the U.S. nor the PKK. In the same vein, the U.S. and PKK do not trust them. Terrorists who will show resistance are between 10,000 and 12,000.”
Commanders killed, money burnt
The operation carried out by Turkey in Karaçok came as a shock for the PKK terror group, said Tala Silo.
“Everyone in the organization realized ‘everything has come to an end. Turkey launched its operation and the Syrian Kurdistan dream is over.’ News of a possible aerial operation resulted in headquarters being evacuated. In the following 10 days, we slept in camouflaged positions in the desert.”
Silo said that 75 terrorists were killed in the Karaçok bombings.
“Those are mostly key names. Nalin, the Syria responsible for the PKK’s so-called women unit, the YPJ, was also killed in the attack. Hundreds of millions of dollars in PKK money were burned in the attack. That operation dealt a large blow to the organization in every respect.”
At least 26 PKK terrorists were "neutralized" in counter-terrorism operations across Turkey over the past week, the country's Interior Ministry said on Monday.Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.The ministry said in a statement that a total of 2,817 anti-terror operations were conducted between Dec. 3 and 10.One terrorist was killed, 19 were captured, while another six terrorists surrendered to Turkish security forces, the statement said.Security forces seized two hand grenades, 428 kilograms of explosive material, four improvised explosives, 21 long-barreled weapons and 2,027 ammunition.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 nearly 40,000 people, including women and children.The security forces also arrested 3,290 suspects for crimes linked to drugs and smuggling, 926 others for aiding and abetting terror organizations and 187 suspects for human trafficking.A total of 4,567 irregular migrants were caught during the operations, according to the statement.
Turkey 'neutralizes' 26 terrorists over past week
“He’s personally in charge of money and weapons”
The U.S. is controlling the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Syria with the help of a terrorist on Turkey’s most-wanted list, said Sillo.
Shahin Cilo, who’s known as terror ringleader Abdullah Öcalan’s foster son and whose real name is Ferhat Abdi Shahin, was tasked along with Bahoz Erdal of managing the PKK’s Syria arm since the beginning of the Syrian war.
Wıth the start of the American intervention in Syria in 2015, Shahin answered directly to U.S. Special Envoy Brett Mcgurk and military officials as the PKK’s leading commander in charge of running operations from behind the scenes.
Shahin, who’s on Turkey’s most-wanted list, was personally in charge of receiving money, weapons, munitions and other aid.
He was spotted in 2017 with U.S. Special Operations soldiers in Syria’s Mount Karaçok.
After protests by Tukey, the Pentagon finally acknowledged dealing with Shahin, who they called “General Mazlum,” and claimed he was a commander of the SDF in a scandalous statement.