KRG supports PKK/PYD terrorists in Afrin by keeping border gates open

The Barzani administration in Iraq has extended help to terrorists from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)’s Syrian offshoot, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), in Syria’s northwestern Afrin region, during a session for the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)’s parliament.

Under the pretext of sending humanitarian aid and medical supplies, it was decided during the parliament session to keep open the border gates between Iraq’s northern region and Syria’s PKK/PYD-occupied areas in northern Syria.

Following last year’s illegal referendum to declare independence from Baghdad, which the KRG proceeded to hold despite all warnings, the northern Iraq administration came out against Turkey’s Operation Olive Branch in Syria’s PKK/PYD-occupied Afrin.

The regional parliament held a meeting on the issue of Operation Olive Branch where members voted in favor of keeping border gates under KRG control open, which will enable PKK/PYD terrorists to keep receiving U.S. arms.

Close to 5,000 truckloads of weapons and ammunitions were sent by the U.S. to PKK/PYD terrorists in Syria through KRG-controlled border gates in northern Iraq under the pretext of the fight against Daesh.

Following the referendum, Iraq’s central government demanded that the KRG handed over control of border gates in the region, however, the northern administration especially refused to give up crossings with Syria due to its ongoing dealing with terror organizations in Syria.

On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch along with the Free Syrian Army (FSA) to clear PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin, northwestern Syria.

According to the Turkish General Staff, the operation aims to establish security and stability along Turkey’s borders and the region as well as to protect Syrians from terrorist oppression and cruelty.

The operation is being carried out under the framework of Turkey's rights based on international law, UN Security Council resolutions, its self-defense rights under the UN charter, and respect for Syria's territorial integrity.

The military also said only terror targets are being destroyed and the "utmost importance and sensitivity" are being used to avoid harming civilians.

The operation is continuing "successfully" as planned, said the statement released by the General Staff.

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

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. The PKK has been conducting armed violence in the southeastern part of Turkey since 1984. More than 40,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the three-decade long conflict.