Turkey is set to put an end to a 40-year fallacy perpetuated by terrorists from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) by launching an operation to enter the terror group’s headquarters in northern Iraq’s Qandil, according to a former Turkish general.
Speaking to Yeni Şafak daily, retired General İhsan Başbozkurt stressed the need for Turkey to establish a 30 to 40 kilometer “safe haven” in Iraq, similar to the one established in Syria following operations Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch.
Northern Iraq’s Qandil Mountains have been a haven for PKK terrorists over the past few decades. Considered as the main base of the PKK, which control checkpoints and entrances to the mountains, the structuring in the area is used for cover and concealment by terrorists.
Airstrikes on PKK targets in northern Iraq have been carried out regularly since July 2015, when the PKK resumed its armed campaign.
Wanting to avenge their defeat in Afrin, the PKK intensified their efforts in the so-called “Shemdinli Triangle,” said Başbozkurt.
"The terrorist organization has called it the ‘Shemdinli triangle’ since it was founded, meaning the Iran-Iraq-Turkey triangle. They headed there to avenge Afrin. They have been deploying forces to that region since March, and brought terrorists from Iraq and Syria there. This is Turkey's reason for launching the military operation starting from Shemdinli."
"Qandil is only 190 kilometers away from the border, it stretches four kilometers wide and 13 kilometers long spanning an arduous mountainous area, it is a large chunk of land straddled between Iran and Iraq, however, Qandil is no longer safe for the PKK."
"Qandil carries only a symbolic importance now. We must do it and do it immediately. Turkey is trying to reapply the experience and knowledge it attained during operations Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch in northern Iraq. After witnessing that in Afrin, the terror organization is in shambles. They’re now searching for new headquarters and are evacuating Qandil.”
Americans will shelter PKK terrorist fleeing Qandil in Sinjar, Karaçok and Mahmur, said Başbozkurt, noting that the terror group is searching for a safe haven in Iraq and may have settled on Mahmur.
“It might be the reason President Erdoğan mentioned Mahmur along with Qandil when he spoke of the operation,” pointed Başbozkurt.
Başbozkurt noted that in light of recent developments, the Ovaköy border gate gains even more strategic importance, stating that PKK terrorists’ Mahmur and Sinjar plans would be foiled if the crossing reopens as all of the terror hideouts along the Syria- Iraq borders would be rendered void.
“No matter what happens, Ovaköy must be launched immediately. Our survival hinges on it. Ovaköy will bring peace and prosperity to Kirkuk and Mosul. Additionally, Mahmur is within our security rights in accordance with international agreements. Turkey could go 70 kilometers deep inside the border according to the Ankara Agreement and international norms, and Mahmur is only about 40 to 50 kilometers deep from our borders,” concluded Başbozkurt.
