Pentagon hands over Syria observation posts to PKK/PYD ahead of Turkish op

The Pentagon has handed control over the observation posts established by the U.S. on Turkey’s southern borders to terrorists from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)’s Syria affiliate, the PYD.

The posts, set up in Syria’s northern border town of Tal Abyad, are the latest attempt by PKK/PYD terrorists to monitor Turkish movements across the border, using telescopes and close-up lenses.

The observation posts are being protected by vehicles handed over by Washington to PKK/PYD terrorists.

These points are thought to be among the first targets to be struck by the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) when Turkey’s imminent operation east of the Euphrates River begins.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan last week said Turkey was set to launch an operation east of the Euphrates "within a matter of days to save it from a separatist terrorist organization", referring to the terrorist PYD/PKK.

PKK/PYD Snipers and a large number of armored vehicles in the area are said to be pointing their barrels toward Turkey as the op looms.

Tal Abyad is set to be among the most important fronts during the upcoming Turkey-led cross-border operation.

Turkish units across the border in the Akçakale-Tal Abyad zone are on full alert, with howitzers and long-barreled missile launchers, which are capable of hitting targets 40 kilometers away, at the ready.

The Pentagon established its first observation post in Syria’s Tal Abyad in early December about 2 kilometers away from the Turkish border on a hill, which has a clear view of Turkish soil.

On the opposite side of the border, the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) have an observation post in the Turkish village of Öncül, which is just 2-2.5 kilometers away from Washington’s post.

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Nov. 21 that the United States was setting up the posts to help keep the focus on clearing the final strongholds of Daesh terrorists in Syria and avert terror threats.

“We want to be the people to call the Turks and warn them if we see something coming out of an area that we’re operating in,” Mattis said.

Last week, PKK terrorists accelerated efforts to transfer weapons received from the U.S. under the pretext of fighting Daesh to Syria’s northeastern town of Tal Abyad. The shipments particularly escalated after Turkey started to shell PKK/YPG terror positions in the city and the east of the Euphrates River.

The PYD and its military YPG wing are Syrian branches of the PKK, which has waged war against Turkey for more than 30 years.

A possible mission east of the Euphrates, which Turkey’s leadership has been suggesting for months, would follow two successful cross-border Turkish operations into Syria since 2016 – Operation Euphrates Shield and Operation Olive Branch – both meant to eradicate the presence of YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists near Turkey’s borders.