Monday, June 20, 2022

Turkish assassination of Syrian Kurdish leader  in Iraq sends a warning message to Iran

Ankara is telling Iran and the Kurdish authorities in Sulaymaniyah, that Ankara will not hesitate to target any Kurdish leader being given freedom of movement by Iran and its allies.

Monday 20/06/2022

A file picture of Hussein Shibli, the co-chairman of the council of the Kurdish Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. (Facebook)

SULAYMANIYAH, Iraq-

Analysts consider the assassination by Turkish intelligence operatives of Hussein Shibli, nicknamed Farat Drake, the co-chairman of the council of the Kurdish Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, in Iraq's Sulaymaniyah, as a blow to both the Democratic Union Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. Moreover, it was also seen as a demonstration of the extent of Turkish infiltration into a zone long considered part of Iran's areas of influence.

Turkey’s Anadolu news agency reported on Sunday that the Turkish intelligence service managed to "neutralise the Syrian terrorist Hussein Shibli, the co-chair of the so-called Central Executive Council of the Syrian Autonomous Administration of the terrorist PKK organisation, in the city of Sulaymaniyah in northern Iraq."

It said that Turkish security sources believed Shibli was “assigned a mission in Iraq by the leadership of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).” The sources added that Shibli was close to Farhad Abdi Shaheen, one of the leaders of the YPG/PKK in Syria.

The Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) described Shibli as a “martyr” who had played a major role as “a political leader in building and achieving organisational, intellectual and social construction projects” in Syria.

The Syrian Kurdish Autonomous Administration said Shibli was targeted while in a civilian car on visit for medical treatment in the Iraqi province of Sulaymaniyah, by a Turkish drone.

Independent observers questioned Iraqi Kurdistan’s Autonomous Administration’s claim that Shibli was killed by a Turkish drone strike. They suggested instead that the assassination was carried out by a locally-operated suicide drone or by the detonation of an explosive device under his car. They say talk of the participation of a Turkish drone in the killing aimed only to dispel any suspicion of possible cooperation between Turkey and Kurdish leaders.

The same observers pointed out that the targeting of the Kurdish leader in Sulaymaniyah indicated the existence of ties between him and Iran. Their view is that a well-known Syrian Kurdish figure of this level could not move around in Sulaymaniyah without some Kurdish/Iranian cover, especially since the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), the ruling party in Sulaymaniyah, is known for its close ties to Iran and to the PKK. PUK is in fact said to host a number of PKK leaders, whether in secret or in public, with the blessing of Iran.

The assassination sends a message about Ankara’s intentions in Syria and Iraq. It comes at a time when Turkey is preparing to invade areas in the north of Syria controlled by the Kurds, and is trying to expand its area of influence.

Analysts see Ankara as consolidating the hold of its armed Islamist groups , trying to separate the geographical swathes of land controlled by the Kurds east and west of the Euphrates and besiege Kurdish troops in the east of the Euphrates in advance of its incursion.

The Turkish message carries warnings to both Iran and the Kurdish authorities in Sulaymaniyah, that Ankara will not hesitate to target any Kurdish leader being given freedom of movement by Iran and its allies in areas where it they wield strong influence and that it will launch strikes at the time and place of its choosing.

A Turkish drone strike on Friday killed four Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and injured one in Iraq's province of Sulaymaniyah, said Friday AFP quoting Iraqi Kurdistan's counter-terrorism service said.

The five people were driving their vehicle in the town of Kalar at around 6 am GMT when the drone strike hit them, the counter-terrorism service said in a statement. Following the attack Turkey's defence ministry said it had neutralised "six PKK terrorists" in the area where its military operation is taking place.

There has been a long-running Turkish campaign in Iraq and Syria against Kurdish militants of the PKK and the Syrian YPG militia, which are both regarded as terrorist groups by Ankara.

Turkey regularly carries out air strikes into northern Iraq and has sent offensive commandos to support its operations.

On Wednesday, two people were killed, including a child and were seven injured in Turkish air strikes against the Sinjar Resistance Units (YBS), a militia affiliated with the PKK.

The attack occurred two days after a similar Turkish bombing targeted a "PKK centre where senior leaders of the party were meeting" and is located in Sinjar in northern Iraq.

The PKK, which Ankara and its Western allies classify as a "terrorist organisation", has been waging an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984 and is based in remote mountainous areas in Iraq.

In mid-April, Turkey, which has established military bases in northern Iraq for 25 years, announced a new operation against Kurdish fighters based in Iraq.


SDF issues statement about Ferhat Şibli

The SDF issued a statement about Ferhat Şibli, who was killed in the attack carried out by the Turkish state in Kelar.


ANF
QAMISHLO
Sunday, 19 Jun 2022

The General Command of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) issued a written statement about Ferhat Şibli and his friends, who were killed in the attack carried out by the Turkish state on 17 June in the Kelar district of Sulaymaniyah with a drone.

The SDF General Command said: "It was with a cowardly action that Ferhad Shibli was targeted by the invading Turkish army. The Turkish state still continues its terrorist attacks in order to prevent our people's struggle to save their lands and people from terrorism."

The statement continued: "We know fighter Ferhad for the great struggle and sacrifice he made in Northern and Eastern Syria. He was a strong fighter, unwavering in his work, and held a strong stand in the cause of his people. He was a humble, optimistic and loyal personality in his struggles. He devoted his whole life to building a new life under difficult conditions.

Martyr Ferhad's long political and organizational journey played a great role among our people and cadres in the establishment of the Northern and Eastern Syria Autonomous Administration. He established the spirit of common life among all the components of the region, based on the principles and ideas of the fraternity of peoples. He played his main role as a political commander for the implementation of political, thought and social projects. It became a part of the gains made by our martyrs during the long war."

The statement added: "The targeting of Martyr Ferhad shows the crimes committed by the invading Turkish state against our fighters and our people. At the same time, it explains the legitimacy of the political, military and social struggle waged by our people and forces against the constant hostile attacks of the invaders.

Attempts to target our heroes cannot stand in the way of the selfless struggle of our people and forces. We will increase the preparations for more organization, commitment to the values ​​and achievements of the martyrs, and also to liberate the occupied territories.

Our forces, which bear the burden of protecting the people and the land, will not forgive the occupiers' crimes and any crimes they have committed in the past. We will retaliate with legitimate and appropriate military means and escalate the struggle until the last invading soldier is expelled from our lands.

In this context, we express our condolences to the families, friends and people of our martyrs. We hope that the efforts of our martyrs will lead to a new initiative and a great political organization in Northern and Eastern Syria."

AANES official among those killed in Turkish drone attack in South Kurdistan

The deputy chairman of the Executive Council of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria was martyred in the deadly Turkish drone attack in the countryside of the Sulaymaniyah city in South Kurdistan on Friday.


ANF
SULAYMANIYAH
Saturday, 18 Jun 2022

Four people were killed and another person injured in a drone attack on a car near the village of Berlut in the north of the Kelar town near Sulaymaniyah city of South Kurdistan (North Iraq) on Friday morning. It was not initially known who the victims were, and which state the drone belonged to. The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) announced today that one of the four victims was Ferhad Şiblî, the deputy chairman of the AANES Executive Council. Turkey reportedly bombed a civilian vehicle from the air. No information is yet available on the identities of the other dead and injured.

Ferhad Şiblî was in Sulaymaniyah for medical treatment and talks, the AANES stated: "The attack aims to systematically destroy the Autonomous Administration and our people. The Turkish state is disregarding all international legal standards and is carrying out a genocide. The Autonomous Administration calls on the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) government and Iraq to fulfil their responsibilities and take a clear stance on the Turkish terrorist attacks.”

Iraqi airspace is controlled by the USA. On Wednesday, a Turkish drone bombed the Sinune town in Shengal (Sinjar), killing one child and injuring seven people, some of them critically. Shengal is the last contiguous settlement area of the Yazidi people.

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ANF News


PUK urges the Iraqi Parliament to act against ever-increasing Turkish attacks
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