Reports indicate Turkish military building new bases in northern Iraq
A Turkish soldier on a tank is seen during a military exercise near the Turkish-Iraqi border in Silopi, Turkey, September 19, 2017. (Reuters Photo)
The Turkish Armed Forces have allegedly established a checkpoint in the village of Banke, located west of Metina, according to local sources. In recent weeks, the Turkish military is reported to have set up a checkpoint in Kani Balav and initiated the construction of seven new bases in the area.
The Turkish military continues to send reinforcements to the Resava Valley. Local sources claim that the Turkish forces are building a road from the Dereluk dam to Resava village, creating a military route. This operation is expected to encircle and tighten the eastern flank of Bahar Tepe.
Reports from local sources indicate that Turkish units are constructing a new base on Bradost Mountain. Recently, the Turkish military also established a base on Zirara Hill, which is part of the Hakurk region.
Having offshoots in Iraq and Syria, the PKK terror group has been attacking Türkiye for almost forty years. Listed as a terrorist group by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union, the terror organization has killed some 40,000 people—including women and children in past years.
The Turkish military is reportedly preparing to take control of Gara Mountain, according to the news outlet Sark-ul Avsat. The report suggests that the Turkish forces are deploying military units across various locations along the parallel Matin Mountain chain. The Turkish Air Force is conducting intensive pre-operation air strikes in the Gara Mountain area.
The recent activities of the Turkish military are seen as part of a strategy to strengthen its presence in northern Iraq and weaken the PKK’s position. The focus on the Metina and Resava Valley areas appears to be aimed at encircling the PKK and disrupting its logistical capabilities.
The bases established in Bradost and Zirara are reported to cut connections between Zap, Metina, Avasin, Basyan, and Qandil, further limiting the PKK’s logistical abilities. The operation targeting Gara Mountain is expected to strike a significant blow to the PKK’s stronghold in northern Iraq.
