PKK continues to be Europe's favorite terror group

While the EU continues to oppose Turkey’s anti-terrorism efforts in northern Syria, the bloc’s institutions and member countries continue harboring members of the PKK, despite it being on the EU terror list.

Most-wanted PKK terrorists are frequent participants in events of the European Parliament.

According to the Terrorism Situation and Trend Report 2019 by EU police agency Europol, the PKK has been forcefully collecting funds from Kurdish businesses in Europe, while partaking in drug and human trafficking activities across the continent.

US VP, top diplomat to visit Turkey for talks

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence will soon depart for Turkey to hold talks with top officials regarding Ankara’s ongoing Operation Peace Spring in northeastern Syria, President Donald Trump said Tuesday.Pence will be accompanied by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo when he departs Wednesday, Trump said in remarks delivered at the White House.A U.S. delegation will leave Tuesday ahead of the departure of the senior officials, according to the presidentTurkey remands four trying to recruit children for PKKTurkey’s anti-terror operation rightful: ExpertsThe vice president’s office released a statement adding Pence will be further accompanied by National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien, and Trump’s special envoy for the anti-Daesh coalition James Jeffrey.The talks will begin Thursday, the office said, and Pence is set to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a bilateral meeting.”The Administration is resolved to maintain security in the region, the safety of civilians, and the continued detention of ISIS fighters,” the office said, using another name for the Daesh terrorist organization.YPG/PKK terror attacks kill six civilians in SyriaPKK continues to be Europe’s favorite terror group

Schools suspended in north Syria amid PKK/YPG shelling

Education was suspended for two days in the northern Syrian town of Jarabulus, held by the Syrian armed opposition, due to attacks from the PKK/YPG terrorist group.Terrorists targeted the Gandura neighborhood of Jarabulus district on Tuesday. Six civilians were killed in the attack, with 13 injured.Operation Euphrates Shield and its successors, Operation Olive Branch in 2018 and Operation Peace Spring — launched on Oct. 9 — all aim to eliminate terrorist elements near Turkey’s borders, including Daesh and the YPG/PKK.Ankara wants to clear northern Syria east of the Euphrates River of the terrorist PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the PYD/YPG.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union — has been responsible for deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.Video: Orthodox Jews in US support Turkish Peace Spring Operation

In 2015, Europol recognized the existence of PKK training camps in Belgium, as well as the foothills of the Alps in Switzerland in 2017.

PKK-linked associations, foundations and media groups in France were found to easily be able to disseminate the terrorist organization’s propaganda.

The report found that many groups with ties to the PKK were also present in Belgium, where it said the terrorists’ so-called Europe leaders resided.

According to the German government, hundreds have left the country to join the ranks of either the PKK or YPG, with the total being 204 in 2017.

US trained SDF for possible Turkish operation: report

U.S. forces trained the SDF, a rebranded version of the YPG terror group, for a possible operation by Turkish forces in northeastern Syria, Foreign Policy magazine reported Tuesday.Citing a U.S. Army officer who worked with the group, the magazine said the SDF was taught sophisticated battlefield tactics, including how to build a network of tunnels beneath key towns in northeast Syria as a contingency against a Turkish military campaign.The officer told Foreign Policy that the group started to work on tunnels after Turkey seized Afrin, Syria in 2018.Video: Orthodox Jews in US support Turkish Peace Spring OperationThe officer also said U.S. troops conducted several rehearsals with the SDF on how to coordinate in case of a Turkish operation as well as training to build a “defense in depth,” a military strategy that seeks to cause a delay to an attacking force.A former U.S. Army officer who also worked with the SDF confirmed the “group built tunnels as a contingency” against Turkey, said the report.It added that the tunnels and other defenses were likely set up as part of preparations for an eventual U.S. withdrawal.Turkey remands four trying to recruit children for PKKYPG/PKK terror attacks kill six civilians in SyriaTurkey launched Operation Peace Spring on Oct. 9 to eliminate terrorists from northern Syria in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.Ankara wants to clear northern Syria east of the Euphrates of the terrorist PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the PYD/YPG.PKK continues to be Europe’s favorite terror groupIn its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union — has been responsible for deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.Since 2016, Turkey has conducted two major military operations in northwestern Syria — Operation Euphrates Shield and Operation Olive Branch — to eradicate threats from Daesh and the YPG, which is the Syrian branch of the PKK terrorist group.Turkey remands four trying to recruit children for PKKTurkey’s anti-terror operation rightful: Experts

Turkey not worried over sanctions, says Erdoğan

Turkey’s president said late Tuesday that Ankara was pressured to halt its counterterror operation in northern Syria but was not worried over sanctions as the government was determined to eliminate the terror corridor near its borders.Speaking on his way home from the 7th Summit of the Turkic Council in Baku, Azerbaijan, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan touched on a variety of subjects such as Turkey’s ongoing anti-terror operation in northern Syria, the YPG/PKK terror group’s mortar attacks in Turkey’s southern provinces and upcoming meetings with U.S. officials.Video: Orthodox Jews in US support Turkish Peace Spring Operation“They pressure us to halt the operation, announce sanctions,” he said, referring to Western countries.“Our goal is clear. We are not worried over any sanctions,” Erdoğan asserted, adding the YPG/PKK was losing ground as Operation Peace Spring continued with success.He stressed that the U.S. urged Turkey to declare a ceasefire so it could act as a mediator between the conflicting parties, but he rejected this offer, as Turkey would not “sit down at the table with terror groups.”Erdoğan went on to say that U.S. mediation between Turkey and the YPG/PKK terror group would not be reasonable in terms of political science and war law.Emphasizing that Turkey would maintain its operation until the area was cleared of terror elements, he said the territory would be given back to its true owners – Syrians – once the operation concluded.Turkey remands four trying to recruit children for PKKTurkey’s anti-terror operation rightful: Experts“We are on the seventh day of Operation Peace Spring. It continues with success as planned. We secured Ayn al-Arab on the fourth day and Tal Abyad on the fifth day by purging terrorists. Today, we have reached a 32-kilometer depth. We have control over the M4 highway,” he said.The president said a total of 611 terrorists had been neutralized so far, with 556 of them killed, whereas the Turkish army and the Syrian National Army (SNA) have had four and 32 martyrs respectively.He underlined that the U.S., Russia, the European Union and NATO were briefed on Turkey’s actions and goals regarding the ongoing operation and added that Turkey’s operational success in northern Syria went beyond foreign countries’ expectations as Turkey secured a significant portion of northern Syria within a week.“Our goal is clear: cleaning our borders of any terror elements and ensuring the safe return of the refugees…The operation will continue until the goals are achieved,” he added.US has to work with Turkey on their terms, says expertYPG/PKK terror attacks kill six civilians in SyriaErdoğan said the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) exercised great caution so they would not harm civilians, unlike the anti-Daesh coalition and the YPG/PKK’s operation in Mosul, Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor provinces, where thousands of civilians were killed.“Unfortunately, the Western countries always ignored [civilian losses] and never talked about these. Now, they are trying to pressure us. Our operation had and has been against the terror groups,” he said.While Turkey is ultra-sensitive with civilians, the YPG/PKK terror group pursues a completely opposite policy as it has targeted southern Turkish provinces with some 700 mortar rounds that killed 18 civilians, including an infant, according to ErdoğanHe said some people argued that the operation was against the Kurdish population and targeted civilians, that it would undermine the fight against Daesh terrorists and pave the way for destabilization, but these are baseless arguments actually sought to protect YPG/PKK terrorists.PKK continues to be Europe’s favorite terror group’Turkey’s Syria operation is clearing away terrorists'”Our goal is clear: it is to make terrorists leave the 32-kilometer-long territory, and this [operational] line is secured by us, from the Euphrates River to the Iraqi border.”Manbij and regimeErdoğan said the Bashar al-Assad regime’s entrance into Manbij province was not really negative for him, as the territory fell under Syrian sovereignty. But he added that the area must be rid of YPG/PKK terrorists and the local population is mostly comprised of Arabs, and some of the Arab tribes urged Turkey to “save them.”He pointed out that one of the Turkish soldiers lost his life in Manbij following regime attacks and the TAF responded with heavy artillery fire that “made the regime pay.”West holds onto lies it crafted about YPG‘Civil-military ties complex in Muslim world’Ayn al-Arab and Turkish operationErdoğan criticized the former U.S. administration of Barrack Obama for not being sincere in its policy in Ayn al-Arab, also known as Kobani, and stressed that Turkey had welcomed some 300,000 Kurdish irregular migrants who abandoned their homes due to terrorism a few years back but Western media outlets never mentioned this fact and depicted Turkey as murderers of the Kurdish people.He added that U.S. President Donald Trump urged Turkey “not to hit” Ayn al-Arab and Turkey only engaged in a containment operation in the territory but it could intervene if there was a “different development.”He stressed that Ankara did not want to target Kurdish people or civilians but sought to secure Ayn al-Arab, adding the anti-terror operation would contribute to the political solution process in Syria.When asked whether Ayn al-Arab was included in the safe zone plans, he responded: “Of course. Because it has a strategic importance due to its past. They [YPG/PKK] hit us from there.”US VP, top diplomat to visit Turkey for talksSchools suspended in north Syria amid PKK/YPG shellingSanctions on military equipment”Turkey is now a self-sufficient country,” he said, adding the country is currently able to meet 70% of its needs through its own defense industry.Recalling when Turkey purchased Russia’s S-400 missile system after the U.S. rejected selling it its Patriot defense system, he said: “There is no more desperation…You can buy anything from anywhere.”Erdoğan went on to slam the European countries that suspended arms exports to Turkey and said Turkey was already offered alternative options.YPG/PKK’s release of Daesh prisonersThe Turkish leader said he discussed the fate of Daesh prisoners held by the YPG/PKK over the phone with Trump and said Turkey could take responsibility for them, but the YPG/PKK immediately released Daesh prisoners.He added that Turkey could assume responsibility for Daesh terrorists imprisoned across northern Syria and might send foreign fighters back to their countries.US trained SDF for possible Turkish operation: reportTurkey neutralizes 637 YPG/PKK terrorists in SyriaHypocrisy of YPG/PKK”The terror group that acted together with the U.S. until now is trying to reach an agreement with the [Syrian] regime. Those Western countries calling this terror group an ally should think about this.””Who is your true ally?” Erdoğan asked Western countries. “Is it the YPG/PKK or Daesh? Now, we can ask about Daesh as well,” he said, as Western countries turned a blind eye to the YPG/PKK’s release of Daesh terrorists.Erdoğan stressed that the Turkish army battled Daesh terrorists and over 3,000 of them were killed in the 2016 northern offensive in the Syrian town of al-Bab alone.Adana AgreementErdoğan stressed that Turkey’s fight against terrorism in Syria was based on the Adana Agreement and all NATO members should stand with Turkey in line with Article 5 of the NATO treaty.The Adana Agreement was signed in 1998 and allows Turkish forces to conduct military operations in Syria.Video: Operation Peace Spring in northern SyriaMajority of Turkish opposition supports operationThe Republican People’s Party (CHP), Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and Iyi Party (IP) support the counterterror operation against the YPG/PKK, said Erdoğan.He added that Defense Minister Hulusi Akar briefed all these parties regarding the latest developments of the operation and thanked them for their national solidarity.The Turkish leader said U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and an accompanying delegation would visit Turkey to discuss the latest developments regarding the counterterror operation.”I wish that tomorrow’s talks will bode well for us,” he said, adding Turkey was also closely in touch with Russian officials.Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring on Oct. 9 to eliminate terrorists from northern Syria in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.Ankara wants to clear northern Syria east of the Euphrates of the terrorist PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the PYD/YPG.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union — has been responsible for deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.

PKK terrorists in the U.K. were found to operate as an organized criminal group, committing such crimes as drug and human trafficking.

Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration are known to openly support the PKK.

The PKK/PYD has an representative office in Greece and the Lavrion refugee camp southeastern Greece continues to be under PKK control.

The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Austria are also among the countries where the PKK is able to conduct activities with no serious repercussions.

Europe’s tolerance, and at times support, towards the PKK is harshly criticized by Turkey, which accuses Europe of ignoring its security concerns.

Suicide car bombing in Afghanistan kills two soldiers

At least two soldiers were killed in an early morning suicide car bombing in eastern Afghanistan, an official confirmed on Wednesday.Assadullah Dawlatzai, spokesman for the Laghman Governor’s Office, told Anadolu Agency the suicide car bombing was aimed at the district administration compound in the Alishang area.More than 20 people, including young students of a nearby religious school, were wounded in the attack, he added.There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.Located next to the capital Kabul in the east, Laghman has some pockets of Taliban militant presence.Over the last two months the tenacious spate of bloody violence in Afghanistan has claimed more than 3,000 lives on all sides, including the time around September’s landmark presidential polls.Anadolu Agency’s coverage in August and September indicated new highs in Taliban-claimed bombings and coordinated group assaults as well as aggressive air and ground operations by Afghan and U.S. forces amid the failure of peace talks.

Ankara accuses Europe of being insincere in counter-terrorism, due to its criticism of Turkey’s fight against the PKK.

Turkey on Oct. 9 launched Operation Peace Spring to secure its borders by eliminating terrorist groups there, to ensure the safe return of Syrian refugees and Syria’s territorial integrity.

Ankara wants to clear northern Syria east of the Euphrates of the terrorist PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the PYD/YPG.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the European Union — has been responsible for deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.

Turkey neutralizes 637 YPG/PKK terrorists in Syria

As Turkey’s anti-terror operation in northern Syria continues with great success, the number of “neutralized” YPG/PKK terrorists has climbed to 637, according to the country’s National Defense Ministry.The announcement came via the ministry’s official Twitter account.Turkish authorities often use the word “neutralized” in their statements to imply that the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring on Oct. 9 to eliminate terrorists from northern Syria in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.Ankara wants to clear northern Syria east of the Euphrates River of the terrorist PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the PYD/YPG.Turkey has said the PKK and the YPG/PYD constitute the biggest threats to Syria’s future, jeopardizing the country’s territorial integrity and unitary structure.Turkey remands four trying to recruit children for PKKTurkey’s anti-terror operation rightful: Experts