PKK/PYD plot to poison troops, launch suicide attacks exposed

Turkey’s Operation Olive Branch has entered its seventh day. Despite unfavorable weather conditions caused by heavy fog and rain, the operation is rapidly advancing in many areas. Warplanes, howitzers, armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and tanks are constantly striking determined positions.

Turkey’s domestic-made T-129 ATAK helicopter, which made its debut in Operation Olive Branch early on Wednesday by striking PYD/PKK targets west of Afrin, was used again on Thursday. Two ATAK helicopters that struck terrorist positions returned safely.

Commando forces on the field are engaged in operations clearing regions of terrorists. “The PKK does not even clear the dead bodies of its members from the field,” said a Free Syrian Army (FSA) commander.

The PKK, which is being eliminated by the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) and FSA, is implementing new plans as part of instructions from Qandil. The terrorists have started to form a new tunnel to Turkey from the Cinderes countryside southwest of Afrin.

Members of the PKK/PYD who plan to use the tunnels to attack troops in the border region are also preparing to conduct suicide attacks against camps on the border. Daesh terrorists will reported assist the PKK/PYD with these suicide attacks.

Insidious plans of the PKK/PYD were revealed by intelligence work in Afrin. The terrorists ordered the inhabitants of some PKK-held villages to offer FSA fighters poisonous food. For this reason, troops in the field have been ordered to not accept any offerings of food except those sent from Turkey.

Beside this, the PKK, which could not hold on to high altitude grounds in the western part of the district, has given up on the Amanos Mountains. The PKK decided to set up a second defense line outside Afrin. The terrorists deployed in the settlement units place civilians for use as “live shields” in the houses, each of which is turned into a watch point.

Operation Olive Branch was initiated on Jan. 20 in Afrin to establish security and stability, eliminate terrorists of PKK/KCK/PYD-YPG and Daesh, and save locals from the terrorists’ oppression and cruelty. The military also is putting the "utmost importance" on not harming any civilians.

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.

Afrin has been a major hideout for the PYD/PKK since July 2012, when the Assad regime in Syria left the city to the terror group without putting up a fight. Cross-border attacks by the PYD/PKK terror group in southern Turkey started as the Turkish army operation in Syria’s northwestern town of Afrin continues.