While continuing military operations against Kurdish fighters in Northern Iraq that have been ongoing since late April, Turkey is also dispatching paramilitary groups it has trained in Syria to the Hirorê, Zap and Avashîn regions of Metîna.
Turkey’s offensive against Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) fighters in Metîna, Zap and Avashîn regions of Iraqi Kurdistan Region continue since they began 23 April, 2021.
However, it has been reported that Turkey has not been able to achieve the results it was aiming for.
According to the Mesopotamia News Agency, on 30 December, 2021, Turkey had dispatched paramilitary groups called the Syrian National Army (SNA) to the operational areas in Iraqi Kurdistan. These paramilitary groups were reportedly trained in northern and eastern Syria.
It was reported that Turkey selected special units from paramilitary units positioned in Afrin (Efrîn), Jarabulus (Cerablus) Azaz (Ezaz), Tell Abyad (Gire Spî) and Ras al-Ayn (Serêkaniyê) and that these militias were dispatched to the Iraqi Kurdistan Region.
According to the information obtained from local sources, about 1,000 paramilitary members of the Sham Legion group previously based in Afrin, gathered in Maydān Akbis village in Rajo district to be transferred to Hiror (Hirorê), Werxelê , Tabura Ereban and Şehîd Munzur regions of Iraqi Kurdistan.
Later, 850 of these paramilitaries were moved to Hawar Kilis on 30 December 2021, and then transferred to Werxelê, Tabura Ereban and Şehîd Munzur .
From Turkistan
The same sources noted that around 150 Turkistanis from China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Region were also transferred to the Hirorê, Avashîn and Heftanîn regions of Metîna. It was stated that 35 points were prepared for the joint use of members of this group with Turkish Armed Forces (TAF). The paramilitaries were moved to the area from the beginning of December by Parastin, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) intelligence agency, and the Roj peshmerga.
Not the first time
People’s Defence Forces (HPG) has previously shared information about the transfer of these SNA members. In this context;
-In January 2021, Turkey’s National Intelligence Organisation MİT, had positioned more than 3,000 mercenaries from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan and Chechnya to bases in Kanîmasî, Amediyê, Bamernê, Qesrê and Sidekan to fight against the PKK.
-On 25 April 2021, 750 specially trained militias were moved to Geliyê Zaxo police station after the Garê operation. Local sources said that 120 of the The Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters were positioned in the Sirriye area of Sheladiz and the rest in the Balende area.
– At the same time, a 150 fighters of FSA with Al-Qaeda connections were moved to a Turkish armed forces military base in Bamerne.
