US seeks to threaten Turkish presence in Bashiqa with PKK in Sinjar
The United States seeks to transform Iraq’s Sinjar into a second Qandil, which is the main headquarters of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorist organization. Activity in Sinjar, which has been occupied by the terror group under the guise of combatting Daesh since August 2014, has increased.
Contrary to claims that it delivered the region to the Iraqi army last March, the PKK has bolstered its presence there. The U.S. is sending new terrorist groups to Sinjar, which is one of the most strategic areas in the Turkey-Iraq-Syria triangle.
Iraqi Turkmen Front head Mehmet Seman Ağaoğlu said that the U.S. is trying to form a threat to Turkey’s military presence at Bashiqa base near Mosul by reinforcing Sinjar with PKK terrorists.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Thursday vowed to continue the country's resolve in fighting against terrorism."We will continue our struggle against terrorism with the same determination. The sacrifices our martyrs and veterans have made will not go in vain," Erdoğan told a meeting at the Presidential Complex hosted by the Directorate General of Religious Affairs as part of Mosques and Religious Officials Week.Erdoğan's remarks followed a terrorist attack early on Thursday morning that martyred seven Turkish soldiers and wounded 2 others in the southeastern Batman province.The terrorists detonated an improvised explosive device planted as an armored military vehicle passed by.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.PKK turns Syria into drug farm under US protectionWanted PKK terrorist ‘neutralized’ in southeast TurkeyFalse beliefs about Islam must be dispelledFalse beliefs about Islam must be dispelled, in part to fight exploitation by terrorist groups based on false faith, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also said at Thursday's meeting."It is my personal duty to encourage open discussion of all questions related to religion and mosques in this country," Erdoğan said."Mosques are places where Muslims gather, [and] we will make that happen in our country. We will encourage our children and women to frequent mosques," Erdoğan said."Is there a verse or hadith [in the Quran] that bars women from going to mosques?” he asked rhetorically."I never heard of it or read such a thing. My tutors never taught me anything like that. These false beliefs must be dispelled.""The reason why groups such as the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) and Daesh could gain a foothold in a society is because there are spiritual gaps which our institutions fail to fill in," he added.
Turkey to continue resolute anti-terror fight: Erdoğan
Turkey sent some 150 troops and about two dozen combat tanks to Camp Bashiqa in 2015. The deployment -- which was criticized at the time by Baghdad -- was aimed at protecting Turkish military personnel tasked with training Iraqi volunteers. Turkey has a longstanding military training mission at Camp Bashiqa, where Turkish soldiers have trained local tribal volunteers in combat techniques.
“U.S. military forces brought PKK terrorists here. America aims to interfere with the Turkish army at Bashiqa Camp.”
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.
All terrorists will have to pay the price for the bloodshed they have caused, Turkey’s National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Thursday."Our fight against terrorism will continue until the last terrorist is neutralized,” Akar told media in Brussels, where he is participating in NATO defense ministerial meeting."We are decisive and committed. All the security, armed forces, police, gendarmes are determined. We will fight terrorism with determination at home and abroad," he added.US condemns terror attack that martyred seven Turkish soldiersHis remarks came hours after seven Turkish soldiers were martyred and two others wounded in a PKK terrorist attack on Thursday in southeastern Batman province.The terrorists detonated an improvised explosive planted on a road when an armored military vehicle passed through the area.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.PKK turns Syria into drug farm under US protectionSeven Turkish soldiers martyred in PKK terror attack
‘Terrorists will have to pay price for bloodshed’
“Whoever rules Sinjar rules Iraq’s north, the area occupied by the PKK in Syria and Turkey’s southeast. Whoever rules Sinjar will also rule the Ovaköy border gate,” Ağaoğlu said.
The planned Ovaköy Border Gate will directly link Turkey to Baghdad via a 570-kilometer highway.
“Ovaköy is not only a second border gate. Perhaps in the future, it will be the only border gate between Iraq and Turkey. Habur opens into the Kurdistan Regional Government, and Erbil causes many troubles regarding trade between the two countries [Iraq and Turkey]. If Ovaköy opens, trade will become easier. An agreement has been reached, the only problem now is in terms of security. Once that is resolved, it will open,” Ağaoğlu said.
Three separate border checkpoints were set recently set up along the route between Peshmerga-controlled districts in northern Iraq and the central Baghdad administration. This development is set to increase expenses for trucks travelling from Turkey to Iraq.The first checkpoint is located on the Erbil-Kirkuk road in Altun Kupri (Pirde) and lies on the north of the Kirkuk province; the second is located on Sulaymaniyah- Baghdad line; and the last one on the Kirkuk-Baghdad road in the Safra region.Speaking exclusively to Yeni Şafak daily, Kirkuk Province Directorate Organization officer Mehmet Saman of the Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITF) evaluated the newly-established border checkpoints in Iraq and said, “This attempt aims to undermine Turkey’s exports to Iraq and therefore the Ovaköy Border Gate must be opened without delay.”The Ovaköy Border Gate is an alternative to the Ibrahim Khalil (Habur) border crossing located between Turkey and the Kurdish region in northern Iraq.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 planned gate will directly link Turkey to Baghdad via a 570-kilometer (354-mile) highway.Iraq parliament to elect president on Oct. 2: SpeakerCheckpoints will affect Turkey’s exports to IraqStressing the primary aim of these attempts Saman said, “Those interim checkpoints that were set up outside of the border line are controversial attempts. These unofficial gates will increase costs and greatly harm trade dynamism. The Iraqi people will be the ones who lose. In addition, they want to damage Turkey’s export potential with this method. Each checkpoint and customs activity bring along new fiscal burdens. If they insist on those checkpoints, Turkey’s annual export which exceeds $10 billion will be harmed.”Turkmens concerned over PKK terrorists’ attempt to infiltrate Iraq’s Kirkuk “A single gate between Iraq and Turkey is unacceptable” “In fact, the crux of this conflict is that there is only one gate between Iraq and Turkey. These problems will be eliminated when the Ovaköy gate is inaugurated, and trade activity will exceed the present numbers with this alternative route,” he said.“Iran has six separate border gates into Iraq. It is unacceptable that Turkey is bound to a single gate. These points established outside the border line will also cause serious problems regarding the territorial integrity of Iraq,” he concluded.Rape, child abuse, suicide widespread among ranks of PKK terrorists in N Iraq
‘Ovaköy Border Gate must be opened immediately’
Iraq will deploy border guards to its northern border with Turkey in order to stop infiltration attempts by terrorists from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The move, which was ordered by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and approved by Iraq’s National Security Council, will see a force of border guards affiliated with the interior ministry sent to the border. Speaking to Yeni Şafak daily about details surrounding the decision, Turkey’s envoy to Baghdad Fatih Yıldız pointed that Iraqi PM Abadi had mentioned during his last visit to Turkey that his country is willing to increase the presence of forces linked to the interior ministry along the border. During his visit to Turkey back in August, the premier said that the two countries share the same ideas on border security.Video: Turkish President receives Iraqi Premier in AnkaraAbadi’s visit to Turkey ushered in a new eraAfter meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara, the two leaders vowed to improve bilateral relations that would usher in a new era in Turkish- Iraqi ties.“We have come to a mutual agreement to be in full cooperation against the terrorists,” Erdoğan said at a joint press conference with al-Abadi in Ankara.The neutralization of senior PKK terrorist and so-called Sinjar responsible İsmail Özden is thought to have been the result of an intelligence tip that came from the Iraqi government following Abadi’s visit.Five PKK terrorists neutralized in SE Turkey, N.Iraq‘We will not allow PKK attacks’ “We share the same views on border security. We are against any group using Iraqi territories to attack Turkey and other neighboring countries,” the prime minister said during his visit to Ankara.Ovaköy border gateDetails regarding the Ovaköy Border Gate that will directly link Turkey to Baghdad via a 570-kilometer (354-mile) highway are expected to emerge after a delegation conducted a detailed analysis earlier this month. The border gate will play an important role in improving trade ties between Turkey and Iraq and will be a focal point of unity on the border with Syria.The strategic 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 PKK terror group. 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.Turkish delegation to visit Iraq for Ovaköy border gate next weekUS envoy holds slew of meetings in Iraq to halt Ovaköy border gate
Iraq deploys forces along Turkey border to thwart PKK infiltration