Syria: PKK uses Turkey as excuse to end anti-Daesh ops

ANKARA

Terror group YPG/PKK announced it has halted operations against Daesh in Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria as a reaction to Turkey's anti-terror operations in Ayn al-Arab (Kobani), northern Syria.

Using the acronym SDG, the terror group in a Wednesday statement on its social media account used the Turkish operation as an excuse to cover up its failure against Daesh.

The group also attempted to gain U.S. support against Turkey through blackmail.

With its message "if you cannot prevent Turkey, we cannot last in Deir ez-Zor", it aims to gain sympathy and support of the U.S. army.

The YPG/PKK used the same strategy during Turkey’s other anti-terror Operation Olive Branch in Syria’s northwestern Afrin province.

After the operation was initiated, the terror group announced it had ended attacks against Daesh on east of the Euphrates and south of Haseke province.

Since Sept. 11, the YPG/PKK and Daesh have been trading blows, especially in Deir ez-Zor’s rural Hajin district, which is located in east of the province.

The YPG/PKK carried out intense attacks with U.S. air cover and French artillery to completely remove Daesh presence in oil-rich Deir ez-Zor province.

It attacked Hajin district -- the last stronghold of Daesh in the province -- with around 6,000 terrorists.

Hundreds of YPG/PKK members were also killed in clashes which took place in city center of Hajin, and town centers of Siife, Bagoz and Suse, as well as the villages of Abu-Hassan and Abu-Hatir.

Despite the U.S. and French support, the terror group could not proceed in the region. It had to retreat from the areas -- due to frequent attacks of Daesh terrorists -- shortly after it captured them.

The only area the YPG/PKK retained was Bagoz town center which it had seized on Sept. 27.

On Wednesday, Turkish howitzers fired artillery shells on terror positions in Ayn al-Arab region in a cross-border shooting from Sanliurfa, southeastern Turkey and neutralized four PKK terrorists and wounded six others.

Turkish authorities have been pointing out a possible move on east of the Euphrates River, as it aims to free its borders from terror threat.

Reporting by Selen Temizer and Mohamad Misto:Writing by Sena Guler