PYD carrying out PKK's policy in Syria: Kurdish leader

ERBIL, Iraq

The PYD is implementing the PKK terrorist group’s policies in Syria, Masoud Barzani, president of northern Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish Regional Government, said Wednesday.

In an interview with French daily Le Monde, Barzani criticized the PYD/PKK's recent activities in northern Syria.

When asked to evaluate Turkey's "Operation Euphrates Shield" -- which liberated the Syrian city of Jarabulus last month from the Daesh terrorist group -- Barzani said: "The PYD has seized Kurdish-majority areas [of northern Syria], where it is carrying out the PKK's policies."

Turkey, he added, "is at war with the PKK".

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and EU -- resumed its decades-old armed campaign in July last year. Since then, more than 600 security personnel and many civilians, including women and children, have been martyred and around 7,000 PKK terrorists killed.​

Barzani went on to voice concern for the future of Syria’s Kurdish population.

"Due to its non-inclusive policies, the PYD does not enjoy the support of other elements in Syria and continues to support Syria’s Assad regime without any thought for the future of the Kurds in the region," he said.

"The PYD has failed to cooperate with the Syrian [anti-Assad] opposition," Barzani asserted.

Turkey labels the PYD a terrorist organization, while the U.S. has described it as a "reliable partner" in the fight against Daesh.

Freeing Mosul

When asked whether Turkey would join an anticipated operation to liberate Iraq’s northern city of Mosul from Daesh, Barzani voiced doubt.

"I don't think Turkey will join the campaign to free Mosul," he told Le Monde. "But the Turks can help the forces that do take part."

"Besides, the Iraqi government opposes this [i.e., a direct Turkish role in the campaign], while Turkey itself doesn’t want to enter Mosul," he added.

In mid-2014, Daesh overran the city, along with vast swathes of territory in northern and western Iraq.

In recent months, the Iraqi army -- backed by U.S.-led coalition airstrikes and local allies on the ground -- has since managed to retake much lost territory.

Nevertheless, the terrorist group remains in firm control of several parts of the country, including Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city.

Officials in Baghdad, for their part, have vowed to eradicate Daesh’s presence in Iraq by the end of 2016.

*Reporting by Muhammet Kursun; Writing by Satuk Bugra Kutlugun