Because Kirkuk is more than oil, it is more than only energy sources, more than an economic field. It is an identity, an ethnic blend, a culture and belonging. Beyond all this, a new situation has emerged and, from now on, with this power and mission, Kirkuk will become a global-scale area of discussion.

That is, after the battle of states, Kirkuk is the name of the battle of cities. Up until now, we used to perceive the crises in the region on a scale of states and, from now on, we are going to perceive them at the city level. Perhaps in time, it will become an example of the “city states” model, which is the most destructive step of the division scenarios imposed on our region. It is the sign, the example that regional apocalypse can break through one city. Kirkuk is an example of this, and this city is in this kind of situation.

Beyond the Iraq issue, the Syria issue, the matter of the division of these two countries, we may be faced with the globalization of this city-scale power struggle. In time, this showdown is going to gain as much power as the showdown through states; Kirkuk’s experience will become an example and maybe in the future, Aleppo, and later other ancient cities will be the scene of similar power struggles. This is a plan that is being applied step-by-step.

The things that can happen in this city where the countries of the region, the states that come to the region for invasion, energy companies, interest groups, terrorist organizations become tied up, can reach the point of shaking the region.

Because our cities are as strong, as deep and as permanent as states, or even more. Our region is shaped, guided and kept standing by cities, not states. Hence, the attacks aimed at our cities, the invasion and looting in the Kirkuk example can lead to more destructive results than the security risks the states are facing.

This was first experienced by Baghdad. This ancient, history-making city was doomed to heavy insult with the U.S. invasion. While those who came to Baghdad in trucks pillaged the city, while they looted the city with the invading forces, the people of Baghdad locked themselves in their homes, kept silent and were ashamed.

Now, the same circles are applying the same scenario in Kirkuk. They are making agreements, making deals with the invaders and invading, pillaging Kirkuk. They are threatening everyone that is not like them through disgraceful shamelessness and greed and trying to bring this city to its knees with the anger of an enemy of history and identity.

In the millennium-old history of the region, these cities have brutally taken their revenge on everyone who has made them experience such insults. Whether it be the forces in the region or the foreign invaders, nobody has been able to defeat these cities; they only thought they did. Nobody has been able to own these cities; they only thought they did.

One day, both Baghdad and Kirkuk will take the same revenge on those who made them experience all this. One day, it will be once again revealed that those cities are more powerful than those who invaded them. It is going to become clear again one day that, in our region, cities are the ones that make history rather than states.

Therefore, we have to discuss Kirkuk as much as we discuss Iraq and Syria. Today, we need to take guard because of the Kirkuk-based showdown. I repeat: the foreign invaders and the terrorist organizations that are leading them in the region and their partners are implementing a disaster scenario through cities. This is the next step following the plan to divide cities and it is a micro-scale disintegration plan.

Barzani and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) should not be allowed to take control over this city, they should not be allowed to invade Kirkuk, which has no historical or identity ties with them. That the power struggle over Kirkuk may lead to regional clashes must be taken into consideration.

It should be known that without Kirkuk, the terror corridor planned for northern Iraq and northern Syria, the U.S.’s invasion map cannot be implemented. An invasion plan graver than the invasion of Iraq, which was presented as an “ethnic map” in the north of both countries, is being implemented.

A safe environment, a garrison is being prepared for the forces that come and will come from outside the region. Whoever supports this plan is an enemy of the region, they are the hitmen of the invasion plans that have been ongoing since the Crusades.

Let us not forget that Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) President Masoud Barzani’s referendum decision and the PKK/PYD terror map in Syria’s north are planned and being implemented by the same centers. These forces are playing the same role assumed by Daesh. The current goal of the terrorist coalition formed by the U.S. is to divide Syria and Iraq, but its next goal in the step is going to be Turkey and Iran. Once the map, with Kirkuk at its center, reaches a certain maturity, the order to open the “Turkey front” will be given “without even a day’s delay.”

As a matter of fact, this front has actually been formed, the “Turkey front” has been opened at the zero point of our borders spanning the Mediterranean and the Iranian border. In other words, the intervention in Turkey has started. Barzani has also taken his position in the intervention front as much as the PKK, the PYD and Daesh. Those hiding this critical truth, those trying to prevent us from seeing what will happen in the next step, those keeping the current map away from the attention of our nation are also the extensions of that front inside Turkey.

This is why Turkey’s Idlib operation is very important. It has been designed to prevent the division of Syria and to form a “defense shield” against the opening of the “Turkey front.” This zone is the closest and greatest area of threat for Turkey. Whether it be the terrorist organizations of “ally powers,” they are all a part of and architects of this threat.

Permanently closing the said zone’s Mediterranean connection, preventing it from establishing Kirkuk as its center, is going to deal an extremely heavy blow on those plans. It will largely ruin the game.

Turkey must, for this purpose, get involved in the terror base in Afrin and a few more regions toward the east. If it does not do this, a few years later, it will not be able to protect the hundreds of kilometers long border. These interventions are not beyond-border interventions, they are Turkey’s defense, they are receiving those who are trying to bring the war to us outside the fortress, they are keeping the war away from home.

We can’t backtrack in the operation launched in Idlib, no matter what. Regardless of what offer is made, they will all be aimed at distracting Turkey, at rendering it inactive, at buying time. But our issue isn’t Idlib. Providing the security of that region is, of course, a humanitarian obligation. But the threat to Turkey is coming not from Idlib, but from the region spanning Afrin and the Iranian border, and those who are making preparations against us in that zone are obvious.

We have a single threat facing us: believing in the plans of others to keep us in Idlib and stop us from entering other areas. When Turkey was fighting Daesh, the U.S. was cooperating with Daesh while also implanting the PKK/PYD in the region.

The plans to get Turkey to fight with the organizations in Idlib are deadly dangerous. Because, getting Turkey involved in such a conflict, will open an area for all organizations on that corridor and the enemies of Turkey. It is aimed completely at protecting these organizations.

The permanent threat is obvious. The kind of map being worked on and who is working on it are obvious. While the other organizations have a war inside Syria, those in the zone in question are adjusted to divide Turkey. Turkey’s real fight is the forces in this zone.

There is serious effort aimed at getting Turkey to clash with the organizations in Idlib in order to help ease the plan implemented through the PKK/PYD and Barzani. Don’t think of this as planned solely by the U.S. and their partners in the region.

The greatest negotiators of this blinding plan are inside Turkey, they are in Ankara. They are working with the PKK and Barzani, they are working with the U.S., not for Turkey but for that project. We are going to continue to fight on every platform against the internal promoters of that scenario aimed at cornering and blinding us in Idlib.