PKK digs trenches, tunnels in futile attempt to escape Turkey’s Afrin op

Ersin Çelik
14:261/03/2018, الخميس
U: 1/03/2018, الخميس
Yeni Şafak
A PYD/YPG trench at Sakarkaya Hill.
A PYD/YPG trench at Sakarkaya Hill.

Tunnel labyrinths in Syria’s Sakarkaya Hill area fail to protect PKK terrorists against the progress of Operation Olive Branch

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorist organization constructed a labyrinth of tunnels and shelters resembling a fortress at Sakarkaya Hill, which was captured by Turkish troops and Free Syrian Army (FSA) units on Feb. 6. The tunnels were constructed using work machines in an area that has approximately 800 hills.

The terrorists had built five-meter deep pits to protect themselves against warplanes. The pits were reinforced with thick concrete walls.



While some of the tunnels are being destroyed within the scope of the operation, abundant material belonging to the terrorists are also being seized. The machines used by terrorists to build tunnels were made unusable. While the tunnel constructed by the PYD/PKK could not bear the bombs of Turkish troops, they had been prepared with a military strategy in mind in a futile attempt to protect themselves against the Turkish army and FSA fighters.

Security sources indicate that a large number of terrorists have been neutralized in the region. Explosive detection efforts in the region have now ended.

Turkey’s Gendarmerie and Police Special Forces entered the countryside of Syria’s Afrin on Thursday in Turkish-made mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles as part of Operation Olive Branch. The teams have started to engage in residential operations.

A total of 2,222 YPG/PKK-Daesh terrorists have been neutralized since the launch of Operation Olive Branch in Syria's northwestern Afrin region, the Turkish General Staff said in a statement on Thursday.


Operation Olive Branch was initiated on Jan. 20 in Afrin to establish security and stability, eliminate PKK/KCK/PYD-YPG and Daesh terrorists, and save locals from their oppression and cruelty.

Afrin has been a major hideout for the PYD/PKK since July 2012, when the Assad regime in Syria left the city to the terror group without putting up a fight.

#Turkey
#Operation Olive Branch
#FSA