At that time hundreds of forces of the Syrian branch of PKK, namely People’s Protection Units (YPG), as well as some of the key members of this group under the pretext of defending Yazidi Kurd people entered this town. These forces are known as the brigade of Sinjar Resistance Units (YBS). After destroying the Daesh Group and restoration of relative peace in this area, the Iraqi Government, Iraqi Kurdistan, and Turkey’s officials called for the exit of these forces from Sinjar and handing over the town to the Iraqi security forces but despite three years have passed since that decision and some verbal and written agreements have been reached between the two parties, these forces commanded by the central headquarters of PKK have refrained from handing over the town.

Continuation of this condition and presence of PKK members in this area and continuation of the warlike situation of the area as well as entrenching and digging massive tunnels and creating mass insecurity has caused Yazidi displaced people not to dare to return to their homes, and this issue is not tolerable at all for Iraqi government and society. Meanwhile, Iraqi popular forces believe that the issue of Sinjar should be resolved by Iraq Army and Iraq’s Popular Mobilization, and the presence of Turkish troops in this area can have heavier consequences than the presence of just a few hundred militiamen in the north of Nineveh.

As per reports, since last week a new round of operation by the Turkish Army has been launched with the support of Turkish jet fighters and planes and their heavy bombardment on the secret hide-outs of PKK groups in northern Iraq as the operation has been codenamed “Claw-Eagle2” or under the title of “Claw-Tiger2.” Indeed, this operation is the follow-up to a massive operation with the same codename which was conducted against the PKK this summer in Iraq’s Duhok Governorate realm.

Political speculations based on the existing analyses in this regard believe that PKK group members will not leave this area because if they leave the area, they will provide pretexts to Turkey which seeks any pretext to keep its army in the area. Although the return of the displaced Iraqi people to their homes is a positive and favorable move in this regard, the danger which exists here is the possible long-term presence of Turkish troops on Iraq’s soil under the pretext of a continuing fight with PKK.

The experience from Turkey’s scenario buildings in northern Syria also under the pretext of a fight with Daesh group and YPG militiamen shows that the Turkish Army after the end of the operation and clearing the region does not intend to leave this geography and it will set up official bases for long term presence. If we skip this issue, the permanent presence of Turkish troops in northern Iraq due to the existing differences between the central government and Iraqi Kurdistan over its independence can be a big threat for the future of this country and repetition of experienced past scenarios in Syria and Libya by Turkey for creating a backyard and supporting a subordinate government on Iraqi soil.

Turkey with this belief of Ottomanization in the region has painted a picture of itself for the neighbors in a way that they consider the country under the leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan an opportunist neighbor. Neighbors of Turkey have witnessed that since February this year, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar by visiting Erbil and meeting with Iraqi Kurdistan officials like Masoud and Nechirvan Barzani won their approval for a joint operation against militiamen in Sinjar. Meanwhile, in the meeting between Erdogan and Iraq Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, the Iraqi government announced its agreement for putting an end to the security crisis in Sinjar.

But it seems Turkey every day finds a more justified pretext for its presence in the area. The public concerns in northern Iraq are growing day by day because they have witnessed the continuation of occupation of Iraq soil, and the transfer of over 10,000 members of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) or al-Hashd al-Shaabi, and the presence of the group’s leader Abu Fadak al-Mohammedawi at the suburb of Sinjar in recent days has stepped up the possibility for long term conflicts.

Regardless of this issue, Turkey has started heavy bombardments in these areas for days and every moment it is expected Turkish troops to start their ground attack at Sinjar with the green light of Iraqi Kurdistan officials. This point that a pretext for staying for a longer time and creating dominance in those areas is considered a goal for Turkey will, of course, not remain hidden from the eyes of the neighbors and above all Iraqi people themselves, and day by day the concealed hypocrisy for making opportunity by Turkey will be more unfolded for the people of the region.

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According To Iran News, The commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force dismissed the groundless claim made by Turkish officials that the PKK terrorists are on Iranian soil near the common border.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a visit to military bases in northwestern Iran on Saturday, Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour denied as “irresponsible and baseless” the allegations made by a Turkish official that the PKK elements are on Iranian soil.

A few days ago, Interior Minister of Turkey Suleyman Soylu had claimed that there are around 100 “terrorists” in Iran’s Dambat, near Turkey, which “constitutes a real danger.”

In response, the IRGC general said, “There is very good and fruitful interaction between the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Turkey along the common border. Thus, the officials of the friendly and neighbor state of Turkey are expected to make contacts with the Islamic Republic of Iran through official channels after verifying the authenticity of an incident and before making any media comment about border incidents, and to pursue such issues according to the arranged mechanisms.”

The commander also said that the IRGC Ground Force is in charge of security in Iran’s northwestern areas, is vigorously present along the border with full preparedness, and is closely and constantly monitoring the situation across the border regions.

The presence of terrorist elements is among the red lines of Iran, Pakpour stressed, adding, “However, we understand that the recent operations by small (terrorists) groups on the Turkish soil have mounted pressure on the Turkish officials and have forced them to raise such a claim.”

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TEHRAN (Iran News) – Turkey has arrested three mayors from the pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP) on suspicion of “membership in a terror group” and “disseminating terror propaganda.”

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Ashamed of Washington’s role in making way for the Turkish army into Syria, senior members of US President Donald Trump’s own Republican Party condemned him for abandoning Syrian Kurds, who have been loyal allies of Washington in the fight against Daesh (ISIS or ISIL). Iran News covers the report of Tasnim.

NATO-ally Turkey has said it intends to create a “safe zone” in order to return millions of refugees to Syria. But world powers fear the Turkish action could exacerbate the conflict, and run the risk of Daesh prisoners escaping from camps amid the chaos.

“Our heroic commandos taking part in Operation Peace Spring are continuing to advance east of the Euphrates,” the Turkish Defense Ministry wrote on Twitter on Thursday, posting a video showing soldiers firing rifles in darkness as they advanced, Reuters reported.

A witness in the Turkish town of Akcakale said volleys of rockets were fired from there across the border into Syria’s Tel Abyad. Smoke rose from two targets hit on the Syrian side of the border, he said.

Turkish forces shelled targets near Ral al Ain on Thursday morning, and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters responded, another witness said.

The Turkish army has hit 181 targets of the Kurdish militia with its air force and artillery since the start of operation into northeast Syria, the ministry said.

One of the prisons where Daesh detainees are held was struck by a Turkish air strike, the SDF said on Twitter.

The US military has taken custody of two high-profile Daesh militants previously held in Syria by the SDF and moved them out of the country to a secure location, a US official said.

A second US official said they belonged to a group of British fighters nicknamed “The Beatles,” who have been tied to the murder of Western hostages.

Akcakale was quiet for much of the morning after sporadic gunfire and the sound of tank movement were heard in the early hours, Reuters journalists said. Explosions had rocked Tel Abyad earlier in the night, they said.

“Operation Peace Spring is continuing as planned across the border,” Turkey’s Vice President Fuat Oktay wrote on Twitter. Turkey regards the Kurdish militia as a terrorist group because of its links to Kurdish PKK militants waging a decades-old insurgency in southeast Turkey.

Troops entered Syria at four points, two of them close to Tel Abyad and two close to Ras al Ain further east, according to Turkish media reports.

Air strikes killed at least five civilians and three SDF fighters, while dozens of civilians were wounded, the SDF said. Thousands of people fled Ras al Ain towards Hasaka province, held by the SDF.

SDF spokesman Mustafa Bali said on Twitter that the group’s fighters had repelled a ground attack by Turkish troops in Tel Abyad.

SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING

The United Nations Security Council will meet on Thursday to discuss Syria at the request of the five European members, Britain, France, Germany, Belgium and Poland.

In a letter to the 15-member Council seen by Reuters, Turkey said that its military operation would be “proportionate, measured and responsible.”

The 22-member Arab League said it will hold an emergency meeting on Saturday.

At a news conference on Wednesday, Trump defended US policy towards Kurds, saying Washington had spent “tremendous amounts of money” arming and funding them.

“The Kurds are fighting for their land…As somebody wrote in a very powerful article today, they didn’t help us in the Second World War, they didn’t help us with Normandy as an example… But they were there to help us with their land, and that’s a different thing,” Trump said.

“With all of that being said we like the Kurds.”

But one of Trump’s closest fellow Republican allies, Senator Lindsey Graham, said failing to support the Kurds would be “the biggest mistake of his presidency” and unveiled a framework for sanctions on Turkey with Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen.

The Syrian Kurdish group was for years Washington’s main allies on the ground in Syria and the Turkish incursion was potentially one of the biggest shifts in years in the Syrian war that has drawn in global and regional powers.

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According To Iran News, The spokesperson for Iran’s administration voiced concerns over the Turkish government’s planned attack on northern Syria and said the Islamic Republic has called on the neighboring country to show restraint.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a cabinet session in Tehran on Wednesday, Ali Rabiee pointed to the recent negotiations between Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, about Syria and said during the talks, Tehran called on Ankara to exercise self-restraint.

“The Syrian army should be stationed along the border with Turkey,” he said, adding, “Turkey is our friend and we have many regional and bilateral common interests.”

“Idlib, which has become a (terrorists) base, is important to us and its fate should be determined,” he stated.

The spokesman went on to say that the Islamic Republic also welcomes the withdrawal of US troops from Syria.

Turkey has signaled its intent to press ahead with an attack on US-backed Kurdish militias in north-east Syria despite confusion over US policy after officials appeared to backtrack on Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw troops from the area.

The vice-president, Fuat Oktay, said Turkey would execute its own plans regarding national security and would not be “controlled by threats”.

“Turkey will not accept a terror corridor or terror state right next to its borders under any circumstances, whatever the cost,” he said.

The Trump administration appeared to step back from the president’s reported promise to his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a phone call on Sunday that he would withdraw US troops from Syria’s north-east.

The decision appeared to clear the way for a Turkish assault on the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which the US has backed but Ankara considers an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ party (PKK).

The SDF said late on Tuesday night that Turkish forces were already attacking near the border, according to The Guardian.

“The Turkish military is shelling one of our points on SereKaniye Border with Turkey,” it said in a tweet, referencing the key border town of Ras al-Ayn.

It was one of the places from which US troops withdrew on Monday, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

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“If Turkey, US don’t find common ground, Ankara will be obliged to create a safe zone on its own,” Akar said.

Akar reiterated once again that Ankara will not allow a terror corridor south of Turkey.

He also noted that Turkey is the only competent and efficient power to provide control over the planned safe zone in northern Syria.

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This newspaper wrote according to its sources, the U.S. is to send a consignment of Stinger missiles to Syria by Israel’s support and it happens at the time the tension between Washington and Ankara has escalated over the pre-planned purchase of Russian S-400 defensive system.

According to Yeni Şafak, a U.S. delegation composed of officials from the State Department and the Pentagon visited Syria last month and pledged a $30 million financial aid for the construction of military posts, recruitment of additional fighters, and increasing salaries.

The U.S. delegation ordered the PKK representatives to increase the number of their fighters to 100,000 till the end of the year, Yeni Safak quoted Dede as saying.

Following the meetings between the U.S. delegation, the PKK sent official notification to its fighters that their salaries would be increased to $291 from $213 as of May, the daily said.

Last month and during the meeting of senior members of the PKK with Israeli officials in Tel Aviv, Zionists promised to equip the PKK with anti-tank guided missile “Spike” which are made by Israel’s Rafael Company.

The newspaper, according to its sources, claimed that the Israeli and U.S.-made missiles are to be deployed in regions of Al-Ramiya, Al-Shaddadi, Galabieh and Al-Amar and the anti-tank guided missiles are to be sent to Deir ez Zor and Al – Raqqa provinces. It also claimed that 30 PKK members had been trained for using those weapons.

Since 2016 that the dispute between the U.S. and Turkey has escalated over the regional issues and Turkey has ignored the U.S. role in the region because of Europe’s and eventually UK’s support, this dispute is getting more tense.

The U.S. has financed and armed Kurd militants and the PKK members to use them as their mercenaries in dictating its policy in the region and to increase pressure on President Erdogan’s government.

When Turkish government and nation both consider the PKK as a terrorist group, the U.S. move to support the group shows that the U.S. uses terrorists in the region for its goals.

For many years, the U.S. has been using the PKK and the People’s Protection Units (People’s Defense Units), mainly-Kurdish militia in Syria and the primary component of the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria’s Syrian Democratic Forces, in order to put Erdogan under pressure to pave the ground for materializing U.S. military policies in the region, and it has explicitly and recklessly been supporting those groups.

The PKK has been fighting with Turkish government since 1990 and it has fought with all governments for independence or self-autonomy and it still continues.

Ankara has designated the People’s Protection Units as a terrorist group and it has led to tension in Ankara-Washington ties because the U.S. has been supporting the group in the past two years.

Experts believe that Turkey is fighting with the U.S. over the UK’s interests in the region. Of course, as long as Turkey fights with the U.S. over destroying Daesh and PKK forces, the Islamic Republic of Iran will continue defending Syria’s territorial integrity and government because Turkish stand is not far from Iran’s.

By: Hamid Reza Naghashian

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