Turkey Eliminates 24 Kurdish Militants in Recent Cross-Border Operations
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Synopsis
In recent cross-border operations, Turkish forces have reported killing 24 Kurdish militants in northern Iraq and Syria. This action is part of a broader military campaign against the PKK and its affiliates, amid ongoing negotiations between Kurdish groups and the Syrian government.
Key Takeaways
- Turkish forces killed 24 Kurdish militants in recent operations.
- A total of 502 militants have been eliminated since January.
- The PKK has been in conflict with Turkey for over 30 years.
- Turkey continues to combat terrorism in Syria despite recent agreements.
- Monitoring of the ceasefire's impact is ongoing.
Ankara, March 14 (NationPress) Turkish forces successfully eliminated 24 Kurdish militants during cross-border operations in northern Iraq and northern Syria over the past week, as reported by Turkey's Defence Ministry.
This military action against Kurdish factions follows a recent agreement between Syrian Kurds and the central government in Damascus, along with a declared ceasefire by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), according to reports from Xinhua news agency.
Since January, a total of 502 militants have been killed, which includes 296 from the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria and 206 PKK members in northern Iraq, as stated by Ministry Spokesperson Zeki Akturk.
The PKK, recognized as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the European Union, has been in conflict with the Turkish government for over three decades. The YPG is regarded as the PKK's Syrian affiliate by Ankara.
Turkey frequently conducts military operations in northern Iraq, where the PKK's main headquarters and hideouts are situated. Earlier this month, the PKK announced a ceasefire with Türkiye after its incarcerated leader Abdullah Ocalan urged all PKK-allied groups to disarm and for the PKK to disband.
A significant agreement was made on Monday between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and Syria's interim government to integrate all civil and military entities in the Kurdish-controlled region into state institutions.
Despite this agreement, Turkey remains committed to combating terrorism in Syria, as reported by the Turkish semi-official Anadolu Agency on Thursday, citing an unnamed Defence Ministry source.
According to the source, there has been no change in Turkey's aims, which include stopping terrorist activities in Syria, disarming militants, and expelling foreign fighters from the country while ensuring Syria's territorial and political integrity.
"We will monitor the implementation of the agreement and its impacts on the ground," the source concluded.
