Turkish intelligence nabs 2 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq

By Mehmet Tosun

ANKARA (AA) - Two PKK terrorists were nabbed in northern Iraq and brought back to Türkiye in an operation led by the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT), a security source said on Wednesday.

The MIT carried out an operation in the Mahmur camp, which is among the most important locations used by PKK in the region, said the source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Terrorists Hatip Guney, codenamed Sahan/Cihan, and Aya Ahmet Suleyman, codenamed Tekosin Kamisli/Civan, were nabbed during the operation, it added.

Guney illegally crossed to Iran via the Baskale district of eastern Van province in September 2019 to join the PKK/KCK terror group. Then, he went to Iraq to receive training.

Guney was then sent to Mahmur camp. He carried out activities as the so-called team commander there after receiving ideological and armed training.

Suleyman joined the terror group in 2015. In 2017, he went to Iraq from Syria to receive training in the Gara region.

He also carried out terrorist activities in Iraq's northern Avasin-Basyan region near the Turkish border. He then moved to the Mahmur Camp in 2018.

PKK terrorists often hide out in northern Iraq and plot terror attacks in Türkiye, across the border.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

* Writing by Zehra Nur Duz