US delegation meets with PKK terrorists in Syria's Manbij
A nine-member U.S. delegation, consisting of four of the CIA’s Middle East specialists and five State Department officials, held a closed-door meeting with so-called senior political and military representatives of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) at the U.S. base in Manbij on Oct. 19.
The committee, under intense protection, first visited Syria’s Hasakah and then moved on to Manbij.
According to local sources, Washington warned PKK terrorists regarding the implementation of the Manbij deal and instructed them to not to cause any problems during the withdrawal process from the city and the joint patrols of U.S. and Turkey.
The Manbij deal signed between Turkey and the U.S. in June focuses on the withdrawal of YPG/PKK terrorists from the city to stabilize the region, which is in the northeast of the Aleppo province in northern Syria.
The U.S. delegation also told PKK terrorists to be careful in their statements to the press.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and U.S. President Donald Trump held a phone conversation and discussed cooperation in the fight against terrorism and the roadmap on Syria's Manbij early on Monday.
Earlier, Erdoğan had warned that Ankara "will do what is necessary" to ensure that the PKK’s Syrian offshoot, the YPG terror organization, leaves Manbij as per the agreement with the United States.
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the U.S. President Donald Trump have held a phone conversation on slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Turkey's presidential press office said early Monday.According to a statement by the presidential press office, Erdoğan and Trump agreed on the Khashoggi case need to be cleared up with all aspects.Khashoggi was last seen on Oct. 2 when he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.After days of denying to know his whereabouts, Saudi Arabia on Saturday claimed Khashoggi died during a fight inside the consulate.On the day of Khashoggi’s disappearance, 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while he was still inside, according to Turkish police sources. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.A joint Turkish-Saudi team completed an investigation into the case on Thursday after searching the residence of the consul general as well as the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.President Erdoğan earlier on Sunday said that he will make a statement on the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi on Tuesday during his party's group meeting at the parliament.The sources also said that two leaders' phone conversation included pastor Andrew Brunson, cooperation in fight against terrorism and the roadmap on Syria's Manbij.US senator Corker says he believes Saudi crown prince ordered Khashoggi deathForeigners sold net $1.1 bln of Saudi stocks in week to Oct 18Top German politicians press Siemens boss to skip Saudi conferenceFrance wants whole truth on Saudi dissident's killingSaudi explanation of Khashoggi death not credible: British minister
Erdoğan, Trump hold phone conversation on Khashoggi
At least 33 PKK terrorists were "neutralized" in counter-terrorism operations across Turkey and in northern Iraq over the past week, the Turkish military said on Friday.Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.In a Twitter post, the Turkish General Staff said that 16 terrorist weapon pits, shelters and depots were destroyed in operations between Oct. 12 and Oct. 18.A total of 4,585 terrorists have been neutralized since the launch of Turkey's Operation Olive Branch in Syria’s Afrin region, the military said.On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to free Afrin of YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists. On March 18, Turkish troops and the Free Syrian Army liberated the Afrin district center.The military said Turkey "resolutely" continues to fight against terrorist organizations, particularly PKK/KCK/PYD-YPG, and also Daesh, in the country and abroad.In a separate tweet on Friday, Turkish General Staff said at least four PKK terrorists were “neutralized” in air operations carried out in northern Iraq on Thursday.The terrorists, plotting for an attack on Turkish bases, were “neutralized” Thursday in airstrikes carried out in the Metina and Avasin-Basyan regions, the army said.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 some 40,000 people, including women and children.Turkish forces 'neutralize' 3 PKK terrorists in N. IraqTurkish forces 'neutralize' 12 PKK terrorists in N.IraqUS continues to arm PKK terrorists in Syria under the pretext of fighting Daesh
Turkish army neutralizes 33 terrorists over past week
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NGO and tribal representatives convey grievances about PKK
Following the PKK meeting, U.S. officials reportedly also gathered with representatives of NGOs and tribes in Manbij to listen their complaints.
Yeni Şafak daily’s local source from Manbij divulged the details of the meeting and said that the main complaints of the tribal leaders were the PKK’s money extortion and their attempts to force children to join the terror organization.
He said that U.S. representatives stressed that “We don’t want a new war here stemming from 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.