Latest news with #OperationEuphratesShield
Rudaw Net
30-03-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
PYD confirms ‘serious efforts' for Turkey-SDF ceasefire in northeast Syria
Also in Syria Rojava says won't implement decisions of new 'exclusionary' government in Syria Syrian cancer patients face growing crises due to medicine shortages Germany welcomes formation of new Syrian government Syria's Sharaa announces new cabinet A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A senior official of northeast Syria's (Rojava) ruling Democratic Union Party (PYD) on Sunday said that there are 'serious efforts' for a ceasefire between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Turkey in the region. 'There are serious efforts to declare a ceasefire between the SDF and Turkey. Efforts to declare a ceasefire are being carried out with international support,' Sama Baktash, PYD foreign relations co-chair, told Rudaw's Hussein Omar on Sunday. Earlier in March, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed the landmark deal between the new leadership in Damascus and the SDF as a win for 'all our Syrian brothers.' Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF chief Mazloum Abdi signed a landmark agreement on March 10 to integrate the SDF into Syria's state institutions. Turkey views the SDF as closely tied to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which Ankara designates as a terrorist organization, a claim the SDF has repeatedly denied. Turkey is also fearful that the increased strength of Kurdish groups in northern Syria could embolden Kurdish movements within its own borders. The dispute has led to several military clashes between Turkish forces and the SDF. Turkey has launched three military operations- Operation Euphrates Shield, Operation Olive Branch, and Operation Peace Spring - against the SDF since 2016. Baktash also criticized the formation of Syria's new transitional government, saying it 'does not represent all Syrian parties,' and adding that it was 'not formed on the basis of democracy.' On Saturday, Sharaa announced his new cabinet, which lacks minority representation.
Shafaq News
10-02-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Turkiye 'neutralizes' three PKK members in northern Syria
Shafaq News/ On Monday, the Turkish Defense Ministry announced that it 'neutralized' three Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) members in northern Syria. Turkish authorities use the term "neutralized" to refer to individuals who have been killed, captured, or surrendered. The ministry said in a statement that 'Turkish army units targeted the militants in areas controlled by Operation Euphrates Shield and Operation Peace Spring in northern Syria.' Notably, Turkiye has conducted several military operations in northern Syria in cooperation with the Syrian National Army, including Euphrates Shield in 2016, Olive Branch in 2018, and Peace Spring in 2019, targeting 'PKK elements and ISIS.' The Turkish Defense Ministry continues to conduct strikes against PKK/YPG elements, citing concerns over "border security and preventing militant activity near Turkish-controlled areas," and what it calls "efforts by PKK-affiliated groups to destabilize the region."
Shafaq News
09-02-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Turkish Army neutralizes 4 PKK members in Syria
Shafaq News/ On Sunday, the Turkish Ministry of National Defense announced the neutralization of four members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Syria. The ministry stated on X that the PKK members 'opened harassing fire to disrupt the peace and security environment in the Peace Spring region in northern Syria.' Earlier today, the Turkish ministry revealed in another statement that 'as a result of air operations conducted in northern Iraq between January 29 and February 7, 2025, a total of 11 PKK terrorists were neutralized, including 7 in the Gara region and 4 in the Hakurk region.' The term "neutralized" is commonly used by Turkish officials to indicate that individuals have been killed, captured, or have surrendered. Turkish forces, in cooperation with the Syrian National Army, have carried out several military operations in northern Syria, including Operation Euphrates Shield in 2016, Operation Olive Branch in 2018, and Operation Peace Spring in 2019, targeting ISIS and the PKK. Since the start of summer 2024, the Turkish military has intensified operations in the region, targeting PKK positions and fortifications in the Matin Mountain range with warplanes and drones. In response, PKK fighters have stayed entrenched in caves and mountain shelters, hindering the success of Turkish operations. The PKK, designated a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States, and the European Union, has been engaged in an armed struggle against the Turkish state since the 1980s, seeking greater autonomy for the Kurdish population in Turkiye. This decades-long conflict has led to tens of thousands of deaths, with Turkiye conducting cross-border military operations to target PKK strongholds in Iraq and YPG positions in Syria, both of which Ankara views as extensions of the PKK.
Shafaq News
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Turkiye neutralizes 13 PKK members in KRI, Syria
Shafaq News/ On Friday, the Turkish army neutralized 13 members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) and Syria. The Turkish Ministry of Defense announced in a post on X that the army neutralized six PKK fighters in the Gara region of KRI, and seven others in Operation Euphrates Shield and Operation Peace Spring areas in northern Syria. Ara, bul, yok et! Kahraman Türk Silahlı Kuvvetlerimiz, Irak'ın kuzeyindeki Gara bölgesinde tespit ettiği 6 PKK'lı terörist ile Suriye'nin kuzeyindeki Barış Pınarı ve Fırat Kalkanı bölgesinde belirlediği 7 PKK/YPG'li teröristi etkisiz hâle getirdi. Teröristler, her nerede… — T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) January 31, 2025 No further details were provided yet. Turkish authorities use the term 'neutralize' to indicate that the individuals were either killed, wounded, or captured. Operation Euphrates Shield (Fırat Kalkanı), launched on August 24, 2016, and concluded on March 29, 2017, targeted both Islamic State militants and Kurdish forces in northern Syria. The operation resulted in the capture of key territories such as Jarabulus, al-Bab, and Dabiq, with Turkish forces securing an area of approximately 2,055 square kilometers. Operation Peace Spring (Barış Pınarı), initiated by Turkiye on October 9, 2019, and wrapped up by November 25, 2019, aimed to establish a "safe zone" along the Turkish-Syrian border by driving Kurdish forces out of the region. During the operation, Turkish forces and their allies seized strategic locations including Ras al-Ayn, Tell Abyad, and portions of the crucial M4 highway, gaining control of around 4,820 square kilometers. Notably, Turkiye conducts operations to combat the PKK, which targets its forces and citizens and operates in several countries in the region, including Iraq, Syria, and Iran. The PKK, designated a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States, and the European Union, has been engaged in an armed struggle against the Turkish state since the 1980s, seeking greater autonomy for the Kurdish population in Turkiye. This decades-long conflict has led to tens of thousands of deaths, with Turkiye conducting cross-border military operations to target PKK strongholds in Iraq and YPG positions in Syria, both of which Ankara views as extensions of the PKK.
