Latest news with #PeaceSpring
Shafaq News
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Turkiye 'neutralizes' 6 PKK members in Iraq and Syria
Shafaq News/ On Tuesday, Turkiye announced the neutralization of six members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in Iraq and Syria. In a statement, the Ministry of National Defense confirmed that five PKK militants were 'neutralized' in the Qandil Mountains and the "Claw-Lock" operation zone in northern Iraq, and another militant in the "Peace Spring" operation zone in northern Syria. Turkish authorities use the term 'neutralized' to refer to individuals who have been killed, captured, or surrendered. Etkin ve kararlı!Irak'ın kuzeyindeki Pençe-Kilit Operasyonu ve Kandil bölgesinde tespit edilen 5 PKK'lı terörist ile Suriye'nin kuzeyindeki Barış Pınarı bölgesinde belirlenen 1 PKK/YPG'li terörist Türk Silahlı Kuvvetlerimiz tarafından etkisiz hâle inlerini… — T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) February 25, 2025 The PKK, which uses the Qandil Mountains in northern Iraq as a stronghold, is active in numerous cities, regions, and valleys, from where it carries out attacks within Turkish territory. The PKK is designated a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the US, and the EU. Last week, Turkiye targeted 30 PKK militants in northern Iraq and six others in northern Syria. Additionally, Turkish forces clashed with PKK fighters in the Al-Amadiya district, around the villages of Koherzi and Blava.
Shafaq News
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Turkish Defense Ministry: 408 PKK members killed this year
Shafaq News/ On Thursday, Turkiye's Defense Ministry announced that 31 members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) were killed over the past week during military operations in northern Iraq and Syria, bringing the total number of PKK members killed this year to 408. The ministry's public relations and media adviser, Zeki Akturk, stated that Turkiye 'remains committed to eliminating PKK threats along its borders.' Turkiye has conducted multiple military campaigns targeting PKK elements and ISIS in northern Syria, including Euphrates Shield (2016), Olive Branch (2018), and Peace Spring (2019). The Turkish Defense Ministry continues these strikes, citing concerns over "border security, militant activity near Turkish-controlled areas, and efforts by PKK-affiliated groups to destabilize the region." Ankara classifies the PKK as a terrorist organization and argues that its military operations are necessary to prevent cross-border attacks, however, those attacks come amid ongoing peace efforts.
Memri
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Memri
Mother Of Slain Kurdish Politician Hevrin Khalaf: 'I Do Not Accept That Hevrin's Murderers Have A Role In The Future Of Syria'
On January 29, 2025, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad Al-Jolani, the leader of Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), who declared himself the "interim president" of Syria, hosted a conference, in which he delivered an address titled "Victory Speech." [1] The ceremony was attended by, among others, Abu Hatem Shaqra, the leader of the Ahrar Al-Sharqiya mercenary group responsible for the murder of Hevrin Xelef, also spelled Hevrin Khalaf, Secretary General of the Future of Syria Party, in 2019. Sûad Mistefa, mother of Xelef, called for her daughter's murderer, Abu Hatem Shaqra, to be expelled from Syria and brought to justice. She then added: "I do not accept that Hevrin's murderers have a role in the future of Syria. How can murderers, criminals and gangs have a role? I condemn the participation of my daughter's killer in a congress that took place in front of the eyes of the whole world." Media reported about Xelef's killing: "On October 12, 2019, as world media was transmitting appalling images of civilian deaths and displacement within the context of the Turkish operation 'Peace Spring' in Sere Kaniye (Ras Al-Ain) and Tel Abyad of northeast Syria known as Rojava, more shocking footage emerged... It was circulated Hevrin Khalaf was dead, rather murdered savagely. Khalaf, a Kurdish female engineer from the city of Derik (Al-Malikiyah) in far northeast Syria, was an active Syrian Kurdish politician. She was serving as Secretary-General of Future Syria Party. Hevrin Khalaf was taken from the car. She was tortured and beaten with blunt objects. Her legs were broken. She was dragged from her hair until it was ripped from her scalp. Finally, she was shot dead. Her body, to the appeasement of killers, was riddled with bullets. Mutilated, Hevrin's body was defiled to the whole world. However, nobody recognized her; even family members could not verify the dead body was Hevrin. 'I moved a cloth that covered her chest and face and found nothing left of her body but a small piece from her jaw,' her mother [said]." [2] It was reported in June 2023 that Abu Hatem Shaqra graduated from the Political Sciences and International Relations Department of the Mardin Artuklu University in Turkey. [3] (Source: Dijwar Ibrahim) Following is the article published by Kurdish media outlet ANF: [4] "I Condemn The Participation Of My Daughter's Killer In A Congress That Took Place In Front Of The Eyes Of The Whole World" "Sûad Mistefa, mother of Kurdish politician Hevrîn Xelef, called for her daughter's murderer, Abu Hatem Shaqra, the leader of Ahrar Al-Sharqiya, to be expelled from Syria and brought to justice. "Sûad Mistefa's appeal came amid reactions after a ceremony held on January 29 by Abu Mohammad Al-Jolani, the leader of Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), who declared himself the de facto 'interim president' of Syria. "The ceremony was also attended by Abu Hatem Shaqra, the leader of Ahrar Al-Sharqiya mercenary group responsible for the murder of Hevrin Xelef, Secretary General of the Future of Syria Party, in 2019. "Sûad Mistefa expressed her reaction as follows: 'I do not accept that Hevrin's murderers have a role in the future of Syria. How can murderers, criminals, and gangs have a role? I condemn the participation of my daughter's killer in a congress that took place in front of the eyes of the whole world. Only the will of the Syrian people can determine those responsible." "Stating that Abu Hatem Shaqra collaborated with the occupying Turkish state and committed crimes on its behalf, Mistefa said, 'The gang leader Abu Hatem Shaqra sold himself to the occupying Turkish state.' "Sûad Mistefa demanded the prosecution of her daughter's murderer and other responsible parties who have the blood of Syrians on their hands. She also demanded that these murderers be expelled from Syria. Hevrîn Xelef (also spelled Hevrin Khalaf) (Source: "Abu Hatem Shaqra graduated from the Political Sciences and International Relations Department of [the Mardin Artuklu University in Turkey]. In the graduation ceremony held on June 6, 2023, Abu Hatem Shaqra wore a robing on which Ahmad Ihsan Fayyad Al-Hayes's, Ahrar Al-Sharqiya's leader's name was written in Arabic letters." (Source: June 8, 2023) "Abu Hatem Shaqra also unfurled a flag of the Syrian National Army (the Free Syrian Army as it was called previously) on the graducation day together with a large group of people." (Source: A Facebook user claiming to be Shaqra's cousin also shared photos of him from the ceremony. (Source: Shaqra was seen participating in the meeting of the Turkey-backed National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces (commonly known as SNC) on November 23, 2020. (Source: "In February 2019 Ahrar Al-Sharqiya's Twitter account posted a photograph showing Abu Hatem receiving an award from the Turkey-backed local security forces in Raco, Afrin." (Source: Abu Hatem Shaqra with two Kurds he had taken hostage. (Source: "Even After Her Death, Her Body Was Violated" "Hevrîn Xelef (also spelled Hevrin Khalaf) was Secretary General of the Future Syria Party (Hizbul Suri Mustakbel), which is guided by a grassroots democratic initiative principle. On October 12, 2019, the 34-year-old politician was killed along with her driver near Qamishlo as part of a war of aggression by Turkey. "Members of the so-called '123 Battalion' of 'Ahrar Al-Sharqiya' were responsible for the murder of Hevrîn Xelef. The jihadist militia belongs to the SNA (Syrian National Army) – a coalition of reactionary, Islamist and fundamentalist militias that is paid, equipped and trained by Ankara and, as a proxy force of the Turkish NATO partner, maintains the occupation of parts of northern and northwestern Syria. "A medical report available to ANF lists numerous injuries inflicted on Xelef by the SNA jihadists. She had multiple gunshot wounds to her head, face and back and had broken bones in her face, skull and legs. Her scalp was partially peeled off because her hair had been pulled. According to the results of the autopsy, she must have still been alive when she was mutilated. Even after her death, her body was violated." [3] June 8, 2023. [4] January 30, 2025.
Shafaq News
29-01-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Turkish forces "neutralize" 14 PKK/YPG militants in northern Syria
Shafaq News/ Turkish military forces have "neutralized" 14 PKK/YPG militants in northern Syria, Turkiye's National Defense Ministry said on Wednesday. 'The terrorists were targeted in the Operation Peace Spring zone,' the ministry said in a statement on X. Turkish authorities use the term "neutralize" to indicate that the individuals were either killed, wounded, or captured. Turkiye has carried out a series of cross-border operations in northern Syria since 2016, including Euphrates Shield, Olive Branch, and Peace Spring, targeting PKK/YPG positions. The PKK is designated a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States, and the European Union.
Shafaq News
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Turkish artillery targets PKK sites in Mount Gara north of Dohuk
Shafaq News/ On Tuesday, Turkish artillery bombarded locations believed to belong to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in Mount Gara north of Dohuk, according to a military source. The source told Shafaq News that the strikes targeted the village of Rezigi and surrounding areas in the Al-Amediya district, noting that Turkish attacks on the Mount Gara region have intensified in recent days, targeting 'fortified caves and tunnels constructed decades ago suspected to belong to the PKK.' Earlier in the day, Turkish warplanes carried out airstrikes on PKK positions in the Mount Gara, reportedly hitting a cave near a Saddam Hussein-era palace. The Turkish Defense Ministry had previously claimed responsibility for a similar operation, stating that '20 PKK targets were destroyed in regions such as Gara and Qandil, neutralizing many militants in the process.' The term "neutralize," used by Turkish authorities, indicates that the PKK militants were either killed, surrendered, or captured. Through the "Euphrates Shield" operation, launched on August 24, 2016, the Turkish military was able to capture 2,055 square kilometers of land in northern Syria and eliminate the presence of militants in the area. Since the beginning of 2025, Turkish forces have neutralized more than 120 PKK militants. Ankara's fighting against PKK has been ongoing, with operations launched across the border with Iraq and Syria. In northern Syria, Ankara launched many military operations, mainly Euphrates Shield in 2016, Olive Branch in 2018, and Peace Spring in 2019, saying these operations "aim to prevent the formation of a terror corridor and facilitate the peaceful settlement of residents in the region."
