Sunday, Mar 16 2025 | Time 00:15 Hrs(IST)
WorldPosted at: Mar 14 2025 11:38AM


Türkiye kills 24 Kurdish militants in Syria, Iraq over past week: ministry

Ankara, Mar 14 (UNI) Turkish forces killed 24 Kurdish militants in cross-border operations in northern Iraq and northern Syria over the past week, Türkiye's Defense Ministry announced on Thursday.
The crackdown on Kurdish factions came after a deal between Syrian Kurds and the central government in Damascus, as well as the declaration of a ceasefire with Türkiye by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
A total of 502 militants have been killed since January, including 296 from the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria and 206 PKK members in northern Iraq, Ministry Spokesperson Zeki Akturk told reporters.
The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union, has been in rebellion against the Turkish government for over three decades. The YPG is considered the PKK's Syrian branch by Ankara.
Türkiye regularly conducts military operations in northern Iraq, where the PKK's headquarters and hideouts are located. Early this month, the PKK declared a ceasefire with Türkiye after its jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan called on all PKK-affiliated groups to lay down their arms and the PKK to dissolve itself.
On Monday, a breakthrough pact was reached between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and Syria's interim government to merge all civil and military institutions in the Kurdish-controlled region under state institutions.
However, the deal will not change Türkiye's commitment to countering terrorism in Syria, according to a report by Turkish semi-official Anadolu Agency on Thursday, which cited an anonymous Defense Ministry source.
There has been "no change" in Türkiye's objectives, which include "the cessation of terrorist activities in Syria, the disarmament of militants, and the removal of foreign fighters from the country," said the source, while affirming Türkiye's commitment to ensuring Syria's territorial and political integrity.
"We will observe how the agreement is implemented and its effects on the ground," the source added.
UNI XINHUA GNK
Tags: #Türkiye kills 24 Kurdish militants in Syria# Iraq over past week: ministry
More News
Trump administration places Bhutan, Pakistan in draft list of countries for travel ban

Trump administration places Bhutan, Pakistan in draft list of countries for travel ban

15 Mar 2025 | 11:24 PM

Washington, Mar 15 (UNI) The Trump administration has placed Bhutan on a draft ‘Red List’ of countries, along with 11 others, for a complete travel ban to the USA, while Pakistan has been placed in a group that will be considered for a partial suspension of visa issuance, according to a report.

see more..
Bangladesh's envoy to Morocco terms Mohd Yunus a 'tyrant', has diplomatic passport cancelled

Bangladesh's envoy to Morocco terms Mohd Yunus a 'tyrant', has diplomatic passport cancelled

15 Mar 2025 | 4:28 PM

Dhaka, Mar 15 (UNI) Bangladesh has cancelled the diplomatic passport of the “immediate-past” envoy to Morocco, Mohammad Harun Al Rashid, for his Facebook post wherein he terms Mohammad Yunus as “a tyrant cloaked in deception” and describes the country’s descent into “radical extremism and savagery” under the Yunus-led Interim Government.

see more..
Kiev loses up to 465 soldiers in battles with Russia's Tsentr group

Kiev loses up to 465 soldiers in battles with Russia's Tsentr group

15 Mar 2025 | 4:10 PM

Moscow, Mar 15 (UNI) Ukraine has lost up to 465 soldiers and a Bradley infantry fighting vehicle in battles with Russia's Tsentr (Center) group of forces over the 24 hours, Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

see more..
NZ PM calls for action against hate on mosque attack anniversary

NZ PM calls for action against hate on mosque attack anniversary

15 Mar 2025 | 2:35 PM

Wellington, Mar 15 (UNI) Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Saturday called on New Zealanders to continue confronting the forces that led to the 2019 Christchurch Mosque attacks, stressing that there was no place for Islamophobia in New Zealand.

see more..
U S mulls new travel bans against over 40 countries: media reports

U S mulls new travel bans against over 40 countries: media reports

15 Mar 2025 | 2:18 PM

Washington, Mar 15 (UNI) The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is mulling new travel bans against 43 countries, including a possible pause of processing visa applications from Afghanistan, Iran and Syria, U.S. media reported Friday.

see more..