U.S. Special Representative for Syria James Jeffrey
The PYD/YPG is the Syrian branch of the PKK terror group, the American Special Representative for Syria James Jeffrey said Thursday.
He spoke at a panel at the Defense One Summit, which brings top military, foreign policy and intelligence leaders to Washington to discuss American security throughout the world.
Jeffrey said U.S. operations in Syria could not be done without the "active participation, coordination, and cooperation of Turkey."
The U.S. is not able to function in the northeastern region of Syria while fighting Daesh forces at the same time, and to do both a local partner is needed, according to Jeffrey.
"That local partner since 2014 has been the PYD, which is the Syrian offshoot of PKK, but we have not designated it as a terrorist organization which we did with the PKK,” said Jeffrey, referring to the political wing of the YPG.
The PYD/YPG is the Syrian branch of the PKK terror group, the American Special Representative for Syria James Jeffrey said Thursday.
'YPG is Syrian offshoot of PKK terror group'
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 40,000 people.
Turkey has repeatedly told Washington that the PYD/YPG is not any different from the PKK and partnering with one terrorist organization to defeat another would not yield any result.
He said that the U.S. is still in the northeast region of Syria to defeat Daesh terrorists, remove Iranians out of the area and ensure the political process in the country.
Turkey agrees with all three points but the U.S. added "some conditions" and did not do a proper job of explaining them to Ankara, he said without mentioning what those conditions were.
Jeffrey said without Turkey’s help, the U.S. mission in Syria would be over.
Turkish counterterrorism operation neutralized four PKK terrorists in northern Iraq, the Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralize" in their statements to imply the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.In a statement, the ministry said the Turkish Armed Forces carried out an air operation in northern Iraq’s Metina region.Turkish jets also targeted shelters, weapon positions and arms depots.The terrorists were preparing for attacks on Turkish military bases, it added.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.More than 1,200 people, including security force personnel and civilians, have lost their lives since the PKK resumed its decades-old acts of terror in July 2015.
Turkey neutralizes four PKK terrorists in northern Iraq
Local tribes in Syria’s Manbij region have declared their support for Turkish efforts to rid the area of the YPG/PKK terrorist group.Leaders of the tribes, many members of which have been displaced by YPG/PKK terrorists, met recently in Jarabulus, which was liberated from the Daesh terrorist group by Turkey’s Operation Euphrates Shield.A total of 800 people -- including representatives of 25 tribes, the Syrian opposition's interim government and the Free Syrian Army -- attended the meeting.Attendees stressed the importance of national unity and solidarity. Some attendees held banners reading: "Yes to supporting just institutions" and "Let’s collaborate to rebuild the city".Tribal representatives, for their part, said they wanted to return to their homes and voiced support for Turkey’s efforts to rid Manbij of YPG/PKK elements.PKK bans hijab in occupied areas of NW SyriaIn a closing statement released after the meeting, attendees condemned the YPG/PKK for discriminating against the people of Manbij and its policy of trying to change the region’s demographics.Since Nov. 1, Turkish and U.S. troops have been conducting joints patrols in Manbij.The Turkish military has been conducting unilateral patrols in the region since June.A deal between Turkey and the U.S. calls for the withdrawal of all YPG/PKK terrorists from the city and region, which is located in the northeast of Syria's northern Aleppo province.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 the PKK’s Syrian affiliate.Turkey’s Operation Euphrates Shield, which began in August of 2016 and concluded in March of last year, was aimed eliminating the terrorist threat in the Syrian regions of Jarabulus, Al-Rai, Al-Bab and Azaz with the help of the Free Syrian Army backed by Turkish air cover and artillery support.Turkey develops new projects to boost economy in Syria’s Afrin
N. Syrian tribes hail Turkey’s anti-YPG/PKK efforts
The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which previously arrested teachers who refused to teach the syllabus outlined by the terror group, has now banned the wearing of the hijab (headscarf) by students and teachers.The PKK published a notice in which it announced that students attending schools in areas it occupies would have to wear uniforms.The terrorist organization banned usage of the Arabic alphabet and declared Kurdish the official language in the areas it occupies.The move has garnered a reaction from the public, and some parents showed their anger by demonstrating at various schools.Turkish jets neutralize 19 terrorists in N. Iraq Meanwhile, attempts by the U.S. to show the People’s Protection Units (YPG) as separate and different from the PKK continues.Washington's new special envoy to Syria and former Ankara ambassador James Jeffrey said last week during a teleconference 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.The U.S has supplied the Democratic Union Party (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.Following U.S. orders, the group has removed posters of Abdullah Öcalan, the PKK ringleader, and other symbols related to the PKK in Manbij and Tel Abayd.US monitors Turkey from military bases located near borderTribes revolt against PKK/YPGSome tribes that had enough of the terror group’s oppression raided a PKK checkpoint in Manbij and neutralized five terrorists.Tensions have also flared in Raqqa, where the PKK declared a state of emergency in order to keep up pressure on the public. Limitations have been imposed on entering and leaving the city.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.PKK adopts Daesh tactic of rigging model aircrafts with explosivesPKK terrorist confesses to women, child abuse by groupUS establishes five terror bases in Iraq’s Sinjar for PKK as Turkish troops advanceSyrians in Turkey protest against YPG/PKK terror group
PKK bans hijab in occupied areas of NW Syria