Turkey says will use force to prevent 'arms deliveries to PKK'
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Turkey says it will conduct military strikes and employ its army against any suspected arms shipments to the PKK in light of an alleged influx of foreign arms to the organization.
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Turkey's army soldiers in a parade as part of celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the creation of the modern, secular Turkish Republic, in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, October 29, 2023 (AP)
Turkey has announced its intent to employ military force against alleged arms deliveries to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a group designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, reported Turkish newspaper Yeni Safak on Saturday.
This decisive move targets the Sulaymaniyah airport in northern Iraq, which has allegedly become a key logistical hub for the PKK. According to sources cited by Yeni Safak, Turkey has declared its readiness to use weapons if it detects new arms shipments to the armed group.
The report highlights Turkey's growing frustration with the United States and Iran, accusing them of supplying drones and missiles to the PKK.
In response, Turkey has extended the ban on the use of its airspace for flights to the Sulaymaniyah airport for another six months.
The conflict between Turkey and the PKK began in 1984 and saw a resurgence in 2015. The PKK's objective is to establish an independent Kurdish state, which would include parts of Turkey.
Back in January, Turkey carried out air operations, claiming it destroyed 29 targets affiliated with the PKK in northern Iraq and Syria, as stated by the Turkish National Defense Ministry.
According to a statement from the Turkish National Defense Ministry, air operations were conducted against targets in Iraq's Metina, Hakurk, Gara, and Qandil regions, as well as in northern Syria.
These operations came one day after a PKK attack in northern Iraq that claimed the lives of nine Turkish soldiers.
