File photo
Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorists who carried out the deadly attack against a Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) personnel carrier in the province of Batman on Friday had received training from U.S. soldiers on making advanced improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
On Thursday an improvised explosive planted by PKK terrorists detonated when an armored military vehicle passed through, martyring eight soldiers.
Bomb capable of breaking through Kobra-1 armor
The size of the crater left behind by the Batman bombing shows that the PKK terror organization received training to upgrade their IEDs in order to be able to penetrate the fortified armors and ballistic protections capabilities of the Turkish Armed Forces’ armored personnel carriers.
Experts state that the Kobra-1 armored vehicles provide little protection against IEDs, as seen by the level of damage sustained by the personnel carrier following the Batman attack, raising calls for the wider use of the Kobra 2 and Ejder armors which are capable of withstanding such attacks.
Training terrorists
The Batman terror attack brought back to the fore U.S. support of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The SDF is dominated by the People’s Protection Units (YPG), which follows the leftist ideology of Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) that has fought a three-decade insurgency in Turkey.
A photo shared in February by anti-Daesh coalition spokesman Colonel Ryan Dillon showed training provided to SDF terrorists on the use of explosives.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned Thursday's attack by PKK terrorists in Turkey that claimed lives of eight soldiers.In a statement, Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen, the secretary general of the OIC, said on Friday they fiercely condemned the terrorist attack targeting Turkish soldiers.Al-Othaimeen offered condolences to the Turkish government, people and families of martyred soldiers.He also wished quick recovery to the injured.In addition to Al-Othaimeen, Iraqi Shia leader and National Wisdom Movement chief Ammar al-Hakim condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with Turkey in a social media post.On Thursday morning, PKK terrorists detonated an improvised explosive device planted on a road when a Turkish military vehicle was passing through the area, leaving eight soldiers martyred and another seriously injured.In its 30-year campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- considered a terrorist group by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including numerous women and children.Turks march to condemn terrorist attack in Batman'Turkey to never stop fight against terror'YPG/PKK terror group digging in around Manbij, SyriaTurkish army 'neutralizes' 68 terrorists over past weekIraq condemns PKK attack in southeastern Turkey
OIC condemns PKK terrorist attack in Turkey
Residents of Batman in southeastern Turkey organized a march Friday to condemn a PKK terrorist attack in the province that martyred seven Turkish soldiers.A number of Turkish non-governmental organizations organized the protest, with participants chanting slogans like “Turks, Kurds are brothers” and “Hell to PKK.”The protestors carried a 100-meter-long (328-foot-long) Turkish flag during the march.Seven Turkish soldiers were martyred and two others wounded Thursday in a PKK terrorist attack in Batman, according to local sources.The terrorists detonated an improvised explosive as an armored military vehicle passed by.Video: Turks march to condemn terrorist attack in BatmanIn a statement, the Batman Governor’s Office said four soldiers were martyred and five others were wounded in the rural area of Gercus district.Later, three soldiers succumbed to their wounds at the Batman Regional State Hospital, said a health officer, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.Two wounded soldiers were undergoing treatment, the source added.An operation was launched in the area to nab the terrorists.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.Iraq condemns PKK attack in southeastern Turkey'Turkey will rid itself of PKK terrorists'US condemns terror attack that martyred seven Turkish soldiersSeven Turkish soldiers martyred in PKK terror attack
Turks march to condemn terrorist attack in Batman
The tweet is an open admission that U.S. soldiers indeed provided IED training to PKK terrorists.
With their newly-acquired American training, PKK terrorists are developing new tactics to counter the measures taken by Turkey, of which the Batman terror attack was just an example of “larger scale attacks.”
The U.S. currently provides military training to PKK/PYD terrorists in 20 bases across Syria’s northeast.
It is thought that close to 150 kilograms of explosives were used in the Batman terrorist attack judging by the size of the crater left at the site.
Eight Turkish soldiers were martyred and two others wounded Thursday in the PKK terrorist attack in Batman, according to local sources.
The terrorists detonated an improvised explosive as an armored military vehicle passed by.
In a statement, the Batman Governor’s Office said four soldiers were martyred and five others were wounded in the rural area of Gercus district.
Later, four soldiers succumbed to their wounds at the Batman Regional State Hospital, said a health officer, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.
The wounded soldiers were undergoing treatment, the source added.
An operation was launched in the area to nab the terrorists responsible for the deadly attack.
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.