Washington has continued to support the YPG/PKK despite Turkey’s warnings.
Mercenaries hired by the United States to fight as part of the People’s Protection Units (YPG), a Syrian offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terror group, have been exposed.
It has been found that the U.S. works with Castle International, an American giant in the international military services marketplace, in Syria. Washington has continued to support the YPG/PKK despite Turkey’s warnings.
Specialized in aviation and medical support, Castle International mercenaries are employed by the U.S. in order to fight alongside YPG/PKK terrorists in Syria. Castle International’s social media accounts posted photographs of heavily armed commandos fighting and training beside YPG/PKK terrorists, Turkish newspaper Vatan reported.
The U.S., taking advantage of the rising tensions in Syria’s Idlib and Iraq’s struggle to form a government, is now in preparation for a Kirkuk-centered bloody scenario in the region in alliance with the Peshmerga and Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorists.With the aim of delivering Turkmen towns to the Peshmerga, PKK terrorists are being deployed to the region.Speaking exclusively to Yeni Şafak daily, Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITF) officer Mehmet Seman Ağaoğlu divulged details about the Washington administration’s recent occupational plans in cooperation with the Peshmerga in Iraq, while conflicts remain after the May 12 elections and wide-spread protests that have resulted in death and violence.“Barzani and Talabani are planning a bloody return to Kirkuk from which they were forced to withdraw on October 16,” he said.A military initiative launched by Baghdad following the illegitimate Sept. 25 independence referendum enabled the swift recapture of the oil-rich city of Kirkuk as well as several other parts of Iraq that were disputed between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).The KRG obtained half of the oil they exported from the Bai Hassan and Havana oil fields northwest of Kirkuk.Iraqi forces took control of these oilfields northwest, after Kurdish Peshmerga fighters had retreated.The Barzani and Talabani administrations dispatched PKK terrorists to Kirkuk, Mosul, Hanakin and surrounding towns.Since July 9, Iraq’s Shia-majority central and southern provinces -- especially Basra -- have been rocked by protests to demand better public services, more job opportunities and an end of government corruption.Iraqi parliament elects second deputy speakerIraq parliament elects Sunni lawmaker Al-Halbousi as speaker, breaking deadlockTurkmen centers surrounded by terroristsPKK terrorists were especially deployed near to the Turkmen regions where the Turkmen Party and association centers are located.“PKK terrorists are being sent to the regions, notably to the Iraq Turkmen Front’s buildings, that are near to the headquarters of Turkmeneli TV and Turkmen Party. “We have identified more than 20 houses and work offices that are used by PKK terrorists as observations posts,” he said.“A ferocious massacre similar to the one conducted on July 14, 1959 is currently being prepared and the PKK will play active role in this process,” he added.At least 30 Turkmens were killed, and over 100 injured, in what is today known as the three-day long "Kirkuk Massacre," after a rally to celebrate the first anniversary of the 1958 revolution deteriorated.Iraqi parliament holds second session to elect Speaker
US seeks to deliver Kirkuk to Peshmerga in cooperation with PKK terrorists
Uniforms emblazoned with YPG symbol
The article says that heavily armed commandos from the Castle International Special Projects Group (CISPG) with YPG symbols on their uniforms posed for a photograph shared on Castle International’s social media accounts.
The post dated May 23 was captioned: “Why does the CISPG trust these defense personnel [YPG]? It’s simple. Because we know you work and we promise to stand by you.”
Photographs of soldiers wearing YPG symbols were evaluated by experts on military forums, who say that the troops could be hired by the Pentagon to serve the terror group.
Mercenaries provide “discretion driven solutions”
Access to the CISPG webpage is strictly limited, and one must request access to the site. Those permitted to request access are government bodies and U.S. allied government entities. The website claims that the CISPG is staffed by discrete, quiet professionals, who support clandestine missions worldwide.
Company details not available
Castle International’s LinkedIn says that the private company employs between 51 and 200 personnel, and that it is based in Cheyenne, a city in Wyoming, U.S.
“Continuing our tradition of service to our great nation, SPECIAL PROJECTS GROUP™ provides Personnel Recovery and High Risk Medical Solutions. U.S. and International Government entities as well as corporations can count on true continuity of operations in austere, less permissive environments,” the LinkedIn profile notes.
Turkey strives for the formation of a Syrian constitution and elections in which Syrians both in the country and abroad can vote, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on his return flight from an official visit to Azerbaijan.“Everyone is allegedly concerned about Syria’s territorial integrity. But when it comes to putting this concern into practice, everyone has conducted parceling. One country has 22 bases, and another has five. Bases have been established. Turkey has no such interest. We are not engrossed in parcelization or whatnot. We seek firstly the preparation of a constitution, and secondly for elections to be held with the participation of all Syrians both in the country and abroad. Come, let’s all abandon Syria together. There can be no other solution,” Erdoğan said.“They say the regime called them [U.S.] to Syria, and we say the locals called us. That is the difference between us. We do not recognize the regime or the Syrian government, they do. We recognize the Syrian public. Nobody wanders around Idlib with Russian, U.S., German or French flags. They walk around with Turkish flags. This is of significance. We couldn’t leave these victims, these oppressed people alone,” he added.Turkey deploys large military convoy to Syria as Idlib offensive loomsErdoğan-Putin meetingErdoğan will pay a one-day working visit to Russia’s coastal city of Sochi on Monday. Erdoğan will hold a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.“We will especially discuss the Syria matter in our bilateral talks with Mr. Putin. We will evaluate the latest situation in Idlib once again. If the situation in Idlib continues like this, there may be grave results. Idlib has been calm for the last two to three days. It appears like our efforts have yielded results, however we are still not satisfied,” Erdoğan said.The Syrian regime has recently announced plans to launch a major military offensive in the area, long controlled by various armed opposition groups.The UN warned that such an offensive would lead to the "worst humanitarian catastrophe in the 21st century."Health workers protest regime attacks in Syria's IdlibPossible humanitarian corridors in IdlibThe Turkish president said he would discuss the creation of humanitarian corridors in Syria’s Idlib to prevent civilian casualties, which was mentioned by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday, with Putin during his Sochi visit.“We will have the opportunity to discuss these matters with Putin in Sochi. We fulfill our responsibilities in Syria. What we did in Afrin and Jarabulus is evident. We struggle against all terror organizations. Likewise, we are fighting against terror in Idlib. We have 12 observation points in Idlib, Russia has 10 and Iran has a few. It is true that we are strengthening our observation points in Idlib. We cannot have a weakness in this area, so we will continue to strengthen. Turkey is the most distressed country when it comes to this matter. The people who leave [Idlib] will come to Turkey. We must take our own precautions,” Erdoğan saidAnkara has established a dozen military observation posts around Idlib, which it has reinforced with troops and equipment in recent weeks.Located near the Turkish border, Idlib province is home to more than 3 million Syrians, many of whom fled from other cities following attacks by regime forces.Turkey's resolve to stop displacement in Syria's IdlibTurkey-U.S. ties“Our stance is very clear, and it will continue to be so. We made our offer to the U.S. at the beginning. If you’re going to clear Raqqa of terror organizations and Daesh, then let’s do this together. We’re putting two brigades on duty. We are working alongside the Free Syrian Army (FSA), just give us logistic and air support and we will clear this place. I said this to Trump myself, and later during meetings with delegations. They said they would work with the YPG-PYD. So we said it was their choice, and each to his own. Later, we made our move. We cleared Afrin. We didn’t obtain permission from anyone. There is oppression there, and we will stand up against that oppression,” Erdoğan said.The PYD and its military YPG wing are Syrian branches of the PKK, which has waged war against Turkey for more than 30 years. The U.S. has largely ignored the PYD/YPG links to the PKK, which the U.S., EU, and Turkey list as a terrorist group.Clashes between Daesh, YPG/PKK continue in east SyriaTurkey to bolster military presence in Northern Cyprus“We don’t have a base problem in Northern Cyprus. It’s only a matter of minutes for us to reach Northern Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean from Turkey. But Greece is not as close. There is the psychological dimension of that matter. In that sense, we may establish a base if we need it. Our presence there is important. We will not reduce our military presence there. We will increase our military presence, not decrease it. They do not listen. If they did, we would have sorted this out with Kofi Annan. What was the promise that was made during the referendum, and what was done? We said yes and they said no. They were accepted into the EU and we were not. From now on, we will do as we see fit there,” Erdoğan said.Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when a Greek Cypriot coup was followed by violence against the island's Turks, and Ankara's intervention as a guarantor power.The latest attempt to reunify the long-divided Mediterranean island ended in failure after two years of negotiations in 2017. Greek Cypriot voters also rejected the Annan peace plan in a 2004 referendum that was approved by Turkish Cypriot voters.Embattled German spymaster wants to double agency staffUpcoming presidential visit to Germany could positively impact tiesErdoğan will pay a state visit to Germany in late September, the first official visit since 2014.“I will meet with the chancellor [Angela Merkel] twice. We will evaluate our political, military, economic and trade ties, as well as the fight against terror. Germany appointed a special representative to complete preliminary work, and I sent my special representative Mr. İbrahim Kalın to Germany. Germany has taken this very seriously, as have we. Hopefully this type of a meeting with Germany after an extended period of time will affect the upcoming period very positively. I am hopeful. I sensed this from our telephone meetings with the chancellor too. Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak will hold preliminary meetings. We will also have the opportunity to evaluate the activities of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Germany,” Erdoğan said.“During the visit, we will also meet with big German companies. We will meet with companies with investments in Turkey and those who may reinvest in Turkey. Our Religious Affairs Directorate built a beautiful mosque in Cologne. We will open the mosque during this visit. I will deliver an address there,” he added.
Those allegedly defending Syria’s territorial integrity dividing country: Erdoğan
Pseudo CEO
“Mr. Stark” is listed as Castle International’s founder and chief executive officer (CEO). Mr. Stark, who appears to be a fabricated persona, has no listed experience other than Castle International.
“As well as the founder and CEO of the Castle International family of brands and global solutions I still actively lead and successfully operate with 4-6 person CSAR teams capable of rapid worldwide deployment in support of Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and search and rescue missions,” Mr. Stark has written in the biography of his LinkedIn page.
Links to CENTCOM
It is worth noting that Adrian Velasco is listed as the Special Project Coordinator for Castle International. Velasco attended the American Military University, and then went on to work in the Marine Corps Recruiting as a financial and logistics specialist before starting to work for Castle International in 2016. Velasco says that he was located at the Middle East office of the U.S. Central Command between 2011 and 2015 while he was employed by Marine Corps Recruiting.
“Coordinate with the other international groups and respected government organizations in which we functionally develop and maintain operational layouts to ensure the successful execution of program requirements and delivery of program financial/mission goals,” Velasco writes about his current Castle International Special Project Coordinator position.