The border gate, an alternative to the Ibrahim Khalil (Habur) border crossing located between Turkey and the Kurdish region in northern Iraq
The Ovaköy border gate project is being delayed due to U.S. pressures on the Iraqi government although Ankara and Baghdad had reached a consensus regarding the matter.
The border gate, an alternative to the Ibrahim Khalil (Habur) border crossing located between Turkey and the Kurdish region in northern Iraq, will cut off the weapons supply of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terror group.
Representatives of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terror group and Syria’s Baath regime recently convened at the Four Seasons Hotel in Damascus to strike a bargain regarding a possible Idlib attack.The so-called co-chair of PKK Ilham Ahmad, Head of the Syrian Air Force Intelligence Directorate Jamil Hassan and Bashar al-Assad’s Special Security Adviser Ali Mamlouk conducted a meeting to reach a deal based on delivering Afrin to PKK terrorists in return for them dispatching 6,000 troops to support the Syrian regime in an attack on Syria’s northwestern Idlib province.Damascus is in preparation to attack Syria’s Idlib and has already started to harass southern Idlib, speeded up its military deployments, dispatching dozens of troops, tanks, armored vehicles, missile-launching platforms with the support of its Iran-backed Shia militia’ allies.Idlib, located in northwestern Syria on the Turkish border, has faced intense attacks by the Bashar al-Assad regime after a vicious civil war broke out in 2011. Since March 2015, Idlib is no longer under the control of the Assad regime and has been overrun by opposition groups.US rips Assad regime over death noticesPKK’s Afrin request from Baath RegimeSpeaking to Yeni Şafak daily, Syrian Opposition Commander General Adib Shelaf stated that the negotiations are still ongoing and that the main aim of PKK terrorists is surrounding Afrin by backing an attack on Idlib.On Jan. 20 Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to remove YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin. On March 18, Turkish troops and Free Syrian Army members liberated its city center, on the 58th day of the operation.“Turkey, Russia and Iran have been conducting peace-oriented diplomatic activities for a year but Assad (Baath regime) wants to sabotage this process,” he added.The regime has also started using its airborne propaganda leaflets in Idlib to threaten civilians.Assad uses airborne leaflets to threaten civilians in Idlib‘Damascus is afraid of stability in the region’ “The regions within the scope of the Euphrates Shield operation took significant steps on education, agriculture and infrastructure with Turkey’s help. Damascus is worried about this progress. The regime has done nothing for Aleppo. This is why people are reacting to the Assad administration, and rightly so. The regime wants to hide its incompetence and conduct terror attacks by using terror organizations that are under its control such as the PKK and Daesh. They target the stability established in the region,” Shelaf said. In its Operation Euphrates Shield which began in August 2016 and ended in March 2017, Turkey cleared the northern Syrian regions of Jarablus, Al-Rai, Al-Bab, and Azaz of YPG/PKK 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.Assad regime begins strikes on Syria's Turkmen MountainTurkish presence is our only hope “Security and stability was established in the region thanks to Turkey. The regime wants to take Idlib and they often attempt to harass the region. People are worried, but the only source of our safety is Turkey’s 12 observations point set up in the region. We see these points as security and peace centers. Millions of Syrians have this trust,” Shelaf stated. “We are ready to shield any attack against the Turkish stations. The Aleppo district cannot be separated from Turkey despite all the problems.” “Turkey will emerge much more powerful from this period,” he concluded. 'UN will request Turkey to keep borders open for Syrians fleeing Idlib' Under the Astana agreement, Turkish forces are present at 12 points from Idlib's north to south.Turkey has stated that any attack on Idlib would result in the country withdrawing from the Astana talks and lead to a great disaster.On the other hand, UN Special Envoy for Syria Jan Egeland on Thursday said that the UN will request Turkey to keep its borders open for civilians to flee if a battle breaks out in Syria’s opposition-held Idlib.
PKK pledges terrorists to Assad in exchange for Afrin
Washington, which is currently using the Ibrahim Khalil border crossing to supply weapons to terrorists from the PKK in Syria, is afraid of losing its terror card in the region and trying to force the Iraqi administration to stop the Ovaköy Border Gate project.
The Ovaköy line will start from the bottom of the Syrian border in the west of Habur, passing near Turkmen and Arab regions and will enable goods and services to be delivered directly to Baghdad.
The Bashar al-Assad regime and its supporters have begun striking Turkmen Mountain in northwestern Syria’s Latakia province to capture the region, which falls within a network of de-escalation zones.Artillery units of the regime forces on Friday night carried out intense attacks to the opposition’s frontline to seize the Turkmen Mountain region.After seizing the previously opposition-held areas of Daraa and Quneitra, the Assad regime is attempting to gain full control of Turkmen Mountain, where Turkmens of Latakia reside, according to Anadolu Agency correspondents on the ground in Idlib.Assad uses airborne leaflets to threaten civilians in IdlibArtillery units of the regime forces on Friday night carried out intense attacks to the opposition’s frontline to seize Turkmen Mountains.Over the past month, the regime, Iran-backed militia groups, and the pro-Syrian regime militia THKP-C led by Mihrac Ural have been conducting reconnaissance patrols, military build-up and artillery shootings for determining location at the frontline.Amid shifts, terrorist YPG controlling more of SyriaAccording to opposition sources, Turkmen Mountain carries great importance since it is on the Idlib-Latakia route, and if it is seized, the regime will have full control of Latakia.The regime also conducted land- and airstrikes in two villages and a town in Idlib Friday night, east of the Turkmen Mountains. 'UN will request Turkey to keep borders open for Syrians fleeing Idlib'In 2015, the regime -- backed by Russian air power -- captured some 85 percent of Latakia’s Turkmen Mountain region, forcing some 20,000 of the area’s Turkmen and Arab inhabitants to flee northward to Turkey.Assad regime takes awaychildren’s right to educationUnder and earlier agreement endorsed by Turkey, Russia and Iran, Turkmen Mountain falls within a network of de-escalation zones in which acts of aggression are expressly forbidden.
Assad regime begins strikes on Syria's Turkmen Mountain
The 120-kilometer stabilized road to be used for connection to the main road from Mosul will become an international trade route.
Turkey first announced the Ovaköy gate project at the end of 2017, after it shut down the main border crossing Habur in response to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)'s independence referendum on Sept. 25.
US afraid of losing its terror leverage
Speaking to Yeni Şafak daily, Prof Dr. Mahir Nakip, head of international relations at Çankaya University and originally from Kirkuk, said, “The U.S. is blocking this project fearing the loss of its terror card.”
The U.S has supplied the PKK/PYD terror organization with more than 5,000 truckloads of weapons to allegedly use in the fight against Daesh, despite Ankara’s warnings that the group is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK terror organization.
Turkish security forces neutralized a wanted PKK terrorist during a counterterrorism operation in the eastern Turkish province of Tunceli, the country’s Interior Ministry said Sunday.The word “neutralized” is used to imply that the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.Ibrahim Coban, codenamed Atakan Mahir, was a terrorist included in the Turkish Interior Ministry’s red category of wanted terrorists, the ministry said in a statement.The wanted list is divided into five color-coded categories, with red as the most wanted followed by blue, green, orange and grey.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.Ten PKK terrorists ‘neutralized’ in eastern TurkeyFour PKK terrorists neutralized in southeastern Turkey
Turkish forces neutralize 'most wanted' PKK terrorist
Nakip stated that after the opening of the new border gate and closure of Habur, the Sinjar mountains, which was being prepared as an alternative base for PKK terrorists, will be bypassed.
The U.S. had already prepared a deployment in Sinjar aimed at establishing a military base on the mountain where the PKK terrorist group is still present in the region under the name of the Sinjar Resistance Units (YBŞ).
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.
Ovaköy would be the best response to US blackmail
“The opening of the Ovaköy trade gate would be the best answer to the U.S. which has started to economically blackmail Turkey,” Nakip said.
Turkey and the U.S. are currently experiencing rocky relations following Washington’s imposition of sanctions on Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu and Justice Minister Abdülhamit Gül for not releasing American Pastor Andrew Brunson, who faces terrorism charges in Turkey.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday ramped up his attack on Turkey by doubling U.S. tariffs on Turkish aluminum and steel imports to 20 percent and 50 percent, respectively.
Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin on Monday said the government is taking necessary steps for stability in the country urging people not to pay heed to speculations about Turkish economy."Turkish economy's structure is solid, nobody should trust speculative news and actions," he wrote on his official Twitter account.Kalin added that Turkey's Treasury and Finance Ministry, the Central Bank, the Banking Regulatory and Supervision Agency, the Capital Markets Board and other institutions are taking steps for financial stability."Turkey will come out stronger from this process," Kalin added.His remarks came after Trump ramped up his attack on Turkey by raising U.S. tariffs on Turkish aluminum and steel imports to 20 percent and 50 percent, respectively.Turkey and the U.S. are currently experiencing rocky relations following Washington’s imposition of sanctions on Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu and Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul for not releasing American Pastor Andrew Brunson, who faces terrorism charges in Turkey.Turkey 'most suitable' for investment despite perception operations, says FMTurkey launches probe into suspected actions targeting economic securityTurkey Central Bank to provide all liquidity banks needRussia to increase use of local currencies for trade
Turkish economic structure solid: Presidential aide
An attempt to separate Turkey from the Muslim world
Stressing that the Ovaköy border gate was significant to break the political, military and economic siege trying divide Turkey from the Muslim world, Prof. Nakip said, “This gate as an operation will be the starting point of a new movement extending from Iraq to the Muslim world. Iraqi Arabs, Turkmens and Kurds support Turkey a hundred percent for the opening of this crossing point. Feasibility studies on the construction of the whole border and the new bridge across Habur River have been completed and will be launched when the line starts to operate. Turkey has undertaken the construction of this bridge.”
He also underlined that Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) leader Barzani gained more than 600 million dollars annually from the Habur gate because it is the only trade route between Iraq and Turkey.