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The United States is monitoring Turkey from the bases it established in Syria. More than half of the 22 bases the U.S. has in the region are located close to Turkey’s border. Despite this, Washington has denied having military bases in such positions.
Patrols with Turkish troops and SDF terrorists
Just days after conducting joint patrols with Turkey in Syria’s Manbij, U.S. forces carried out a patrol with the Syrian Democratic Forces near the Turkish border in Syria’s Hasakah.
The SDF is dominated by the YPG militia, which is the armed wing of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), the Syrian offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Photographs emerged that showed terrorists wearing uniforms marked with a picture of Abdullah Öcalan, the ringleader of the PKK.
Washington's new special envoy to Syria and former Ankara ambassador James Jeffrey said on Wednesday that the U.S.'s position on the PKK was "clear" and that it did not classify the YPG as a terror organization like the PKK.
Electronic radar system
The U.S. has three bases in Manbij, and a total of 22 bases across Syria. There are also reports that the U.S. established an electronic radar system in Kobani and al-Hasakah.
Washington is also able to utilize the airspace as it has military runways close to Turkey’s southern border. These runways are in Sarrin, Tell Beydar and Rimeylan.
Recent attacks attempted by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which were carried out by using explosive-laden model planes but were successfully thwarted by Turkish security forces in eight separate points in the southeastern province of Şırnak, marked a significant change in the tactics of the terror group.Speaking exclusively to Yeni Şafak daily, Turkish expert on security and counterterrorism Abdullah Ağar evaluated the situation about the PKK’s new modus operandi that has been previously used by Daesh terrorists.“Loading explosives onto model planes is a strategy that the PKK has copied from the Daesh terror organization. The PKK not only uses terrorists, who have blood on their hands, but also pro-PKK civilians and urban networks,” he said.“PKK uses its soulmate Daesh’s tactics.”Security forces foil PKK attack in SE TurkeyMore than 300 people have lost their lives in Daesh-claimed attacks in Turkey, where the terror organization has targeted civilians in suicide bomb, rocket and gun attacks.Turkish security units foiled the plans of PKK terrorists to attack commemoration ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of the death of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey in the Şırnak province on Saturday.Model planes loaded with explosives were destroyed by security forces. The devices were to be used in terror attacks targeting the governorate building and military areas.PKK terrorist confesses to women, child abuse by groupPKK’s networks in cities Underscoring the PKK’s desire to increase its networks in cities as well as rural areas, “When we look at the attempted attacks carried out by model aircrafts, we see that most of them were conducted in city centers and inhabited areas. The terror organization uses pro-PKK civilians and urban networks. This is why they would like to develop their urban structure: to hide amongst civilians,” he concluded.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.US establishes five terror bases in Iraq’s Sinjar for PKK as Turkish troops advance
PKK adopts Daesh tactic of rigging model aircrafts with explosives
Refueling routes border Turkey
Refueling routes used by the U.S. are also located close to Turkey’s border. The U.S. has seven supply routes in the south-north direction.
Daesh positioned in the south, U.S. positioned in the north
Turkey has expressed its concern regarding the U.S.’s steps in the region on various global platforms.
“Turkey does not have a plan against the U.S., but its clear that the U.S. has a plan against Turkey. Why would these arms come to the region? Who will they be used against?” Erdoğan previously asked.
The U.S has supplied the PYD terror organization and its armed wing, the YPG, with more than 5,000 truckloads of weapons to allegedly use in the fight against Daesh, despite Ankara’s warnings that they are the Syrian offshoots of the PKK terror organization.
Despite Daesh being positioned toward Syria’s south, the U.S. continues to remain in Syria’s north, close to Turkey’s border.
A PKK terrorist, who surrendered to Turkish security forces, confessed that so-called ringleaders of the terrorist organization sexually abused minors and women who were tricked into coming to its camps.According to the testimony of surrendered PKK terrorist codenamed "Amed", those who resisted or hampered sexual abuse were executed by the terrorists, or accused as traitors and tortured in dungeons in caves.The terrorist said the PKK members would force the young people and children to have addiction to drugs so as to easily take them to conflict areas and prepare them for sexual abuse.US establishes five terror bases in Iraq’s Sinjar for PKK as Turkish troops advanceIn 2015, Amed -- as a new recruit to the terrorist organization -- witnessed another newly recruited woman terrorist codenamed "Darsin" being sexually abused in the Daglica district of Hakkari province.In 2016, Amed was sexually abused by another terrorist of Iran origin codenamed "Sahan" in northern Iraq’s Zap region, the terrorist confessed.Despite making complaints on the issue, Amed was accused of "spying, telling lies and slander" and was placed in Kuker prison of the Zap terror camp.Turkish jets 'neutralize' 5 terrorists in northern IraqAmed also said that the so-called ringleaders of the PKK in the Qandil region of northern Iraq were known for their "perverted" behaviors, adding: "Especially Murat Karayilan and Duran Kalkan were known for their deviant behavior towards children and women."The terrorist added that children who were deceived, forced and kidnapped for joining the camps of the terrorists stayed in fear of execution, while some who found the opportunity managed to escape.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.Syrians in Turkey protest against YPG/PKK terror group
PKK terrorist confesses to women, child abuse by group
The United States, which is seemingly in efforts to eradicate terror elements by putting multi-million dollar bounties on the heads of three senior Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorists, set five new military bases in northern Iraq's Sinjar district, for the terror group to ensure their presence in the region.Under the Rewards for Justice program, people who give information on the identification or location of PKK terrorists Murat Karayilan, Cemil Bayik, and Duran Kalkan are eligible for rewards of $3-5 million.PKK seniors flee to Sinjar as Turkey advances in regionFollowing The Turkish Armed Forces’ (TAF) recent blow to the PKK in Iraq’s Qandil, the terrorists started to flee to Sinjar, a region located on the Turkish-Iraqi border.The PKK’s links to Turkey at the “Yüksekova-Şemdinli-Çukurca” line, also known as the Zagros area, have been completely severed.The Turkish army has crossed almost 40 kilometers into northern Iraq and destroyed 48 terror camps belonging to the PKK terrorists in the latest series of airstrikes carried out in the Zap, Mt. Qandil, and Avashin-Basyan regions.Turkey has also speeded up its air operations in Mt. Qandil where only few PKK terrorists remain.Stressing Turkey’s successful cross-border operations, former Turkish Colonel Coşkun Başbuğ said, “There are about 500 villages in the region. The Turkish forces who rooted out terror nests without harming any civilians have been welcomed joyfully like in the Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch operations.”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 is listed as a terrorist group by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU. Its three-decade terror campaign against Turkey has cost more than 40,000 lives, including women and children.Two soldiers martyred in southeast TurkeyTurkish forces 'neutralize' 14 terrorists in N IraqSecurity forces foil PKK attack in SE TurkeyErdoğan: Seven Turkish soldiers martyred in SE
US establishes five terror bases in Iraq’s Sinjar for PKK as Turkish troops advance
Thousands of Syrians living in Turkey's southeastern border cities protested against the YPG/PKK terrorist organization on Sunday.Nearly 3,000 Syrians, who fled civil war in their homeland, gathered under tight security measures in Akçakale district of Şanlıurfa province along the Syrian border.The group called on Turkey to launch counter-terror operation against YPG/PKK east of Euphrates in order to liberate the Syrian city of Tal Abyad.Aliya al-Nasir, one of the Syrians speaking on behalf of the crowd, said the atrocities committed by the terror group were unacceptable."We request the Turkish military and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) to launch an operation east of the Euphrates [River] in order to free our provinces, districts and villages from the occupation [of the terror group],” al-Nasir said, recalling Turkey's two successful operations against Daesh and YPG/PKK in northern Syria in recent years.Following the operations Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch, "terrorists fled the area and residents safely returned to their own settlements," she said, adding the new operation could bring peace and safety in Tal Abyad.Galeri: Syrians demand their town free from YPG/PKK terroristsTurkish troops -- backed by the FSA -- liberate large swathes of northwestern Syria from terrorist groups during the Operation Euphrates Shield in 2016, while the Operation Olive Branch dealt a heavy blow to YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists liberating Syria's Afrin region in early 2018.The group chanted slogans praising Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the FSA, while shouting against the terror supporters.Al-Nasir also called on the U.S. administration to stop supporting PYD/YPG/PKK terrorists.“Let Syria live in unity and freely,” she concluded.Turkey has long protested U.S. support for the PYD/YPG/PKK while Washington sees it as a "reliable ally" in its fight against Daesh in Syria.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. The YPG is its Syrian branch.Security forces foil PKK attack in SE TurkeyTurkish army neutralizes 15 PKK terrorists in northern IraqTurkey crosses off 4 wanted senior PKK terrorists
Syrians in Turkey protest against YPG/PKK terror group