2015 PKK rebellion

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2015 PKK rebellion
Part of the Turkey–PKK conflict
Date 24 July 2015 - ongoing
(3 months, 4 weeks and 2 days)
Location Eastern Turkey, Syria–Turkey border, Iraqi Kurdistan
Status Ongoing
Belligerents

Turkey Turkey

Kurdistan Workers' Party
Commanders and leaders
Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Turkey Ahmet Davutoğlu
Turkey Hulusi Akar		 Murat Karayılan
Cemil Bayık
Strength

628,141 military personnel
407,122 reservists[1]
(2015 figures, of which not all are directly involved)

46,000 Village Guards[2]		 4,000[3]
Casualties and losses
150 killed (By 4 October)[4]
1,021 killed (PKK claims on Aug-Sep)[5][6][7]		 1,370[4]-2,010+[8] killed (Turkish claims on Sep.)
100 killed (PKK claims on Aug-Sep)[5][6]
35 civilians killed (Turkish claim on Sep.30)[4]
26+ civilians killed (HDP claim on Oct.8)[9]
Total: 1,147-2,165 killed

The Turkey–PKK conflict (2015–present) or 2015 PKK rebellion[10] refers to the ongoing third phase of the Turkey-PKK conflict, between the Kurdish-dominated rebel group PKK and the Turkish government, beginning in late July 2015. The 2015 rebellion erupted following a two and half-year long peace process, aimed to resolve the long-running conflict. The Turkey-PKK conflict has been going on since 1984, resulting in some 45,000 killed, as well as 2 to 3 million displaced.[11]

The 2015 conflict between Turkey and the PKK broke out following two year-long peace negotiations, which began in late 2012, but failed to progress in light of the growing tensions on border with Syria in late 2014, when the Siege of Kobani created an unprecedented wave of Kurdish refugees into Turkey. Some of the Kurds blamed Turkey for not intervening against the Islamic State during the crisis, resulting in wide-scaling 2014 Kurdish riots in Turkey, which resulted in dozens of fatalities. The tensions further escalated in summer 2015 with the July 20 bombing in Suruç, allegedly executed by ISIL-affiliated Turkish group against Kurdish supporters; some PKK supporters then claimed responsibility for the July 23 killing of two Turkish police officers in Eastern Anatolia, naming it a "retaliation" for alleged Turkish cooperation with ISIL.[12] (A week later, KCK spokesman Demhat Agit denied official PKK involvement, saying "these are the units independent from the PKK. They are local forces which organized themselves and not affiliated with us."[13]) On July 24, Turkey announced a military operation against PKK and ISIS targets in Kurdistan and Rojava respectively, claiming to inflict dozens of fatalities on both fronts - which caused the PKK to withdraw from the peace talks and announce a full-scale rebellion. The same day, Turkey also performed a nationwide crackdown on PKK and ISIL operatives, arresting hundreds. The conflict then escalated, with pro-PKK Kurdish organizations staging attacks across the country, and Turkish forces attacks in the form of aerial bombardments and operations in the east of the country, including the Siege of Cizre in September 2015. In October 2015, the PKK declared a unilateral cease-fire, immediately after the 2015 Ankara bombings; the cease-fire however was terminated few weeks later, in light of Ardogan's announcements on crushing the Kurdish insurrection and continuous operations in the Hakkari province.

As of November 2015, a number of towns and areas in Eastern Turkey had become dominated by the PKK rebels and affiliated armed organizations. The number of casualties since July 23 was claimed by Turkish government to be over 2,000 Kurdish rebels killed (by September 7),[8] as well as 130 Turkish security forces (by September 30)[4] and 35 civilians (by September 30).[4] The PKK claimed 417 Turkish security forces were killed during the clashes with Kurdish militants, while losing 42 fighters (by August 28).[14]

Background[edit]

Main articles: Solution process and 2014 Kurdish riots in Turkey

Timeline[edit]

Main article: Timeline of the Turkey–PKK conflict

July[edit]

Suruç bombing and suspected PKK retaliations[edit]

On 20 July 2015, a bombing in the Turkish district of Suruç, allegedly perpetrated by the ISIL-linked Dokumacılar group, killed 32 young activists and injured over 100.

On 22 July, in Ceylanpinar (Turkey), two policemen were murdered after being shot in the head by PKK fighters in their sleep.[15][16] A week later, however, KCK spokesman Demhat Agit denied PKK involvement, saying "these are the units independent from the PKK. They are local forces which organized themselves and not affiliated with us" although despite the PKK claiming responsibility for the attack.."[13][17]

Operation Martyr Yalçın against PKK[edit]

Main article: Operation Martyr Yalçın

The July 22 and 23 attacks were largely seen as a casus belli, which resulted in Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu taking the decision to begin active air operations against PKK and ISIL positions south of Turkey's border.

On 24 July, members of the PKK abducted a policeman in the province of Diyarbakir. Additionally two police officers were injured, one with life-threatening injuries, after a suspected PKK grenade attack in Hakkari.[18]

On 25 July, two Turkish soldiers were killed and four were wounded in a car bomb attack in the province of Diyarbakir in Turkey by PKK fighters.[19][20]

Operations Arslan Kulaksız and Hamza Yıldırım[edit]

Turkey on 26 July reportedly again attacked the same village west of Kobani targeting Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) fighters, and fired on a YPG vehicle west of Tell Abyad.[citation needed]

In the early hours of 26 July, it was reported that F-16s yet again took off from Diyarbakır, this time only targeting PKK targets in Northern Iraq. Although there was no official government statement on the airstrikes, PKK sources claimed that one of their key bases in Hakurk was attacked.[21] It was reported that the number of fighter jets taking part was significantly lower than the jets that took part in the previous waves of the operation.[22] The same day, Turkish artillery shelled a PKK position in the north of Iraq over several hours.[23]

On 27 July, in the province of Mus, a Kurdish area, the Turkish head of the gendarmerie of the Malazgirt district was killed.[24]

On 28 July, for the first time since the beginning of the operation, two Turkish F-16s bombed PKK fighters inside Turkey, in the province of Sirnak.[25]

On 28 July, the pipeline between Turkey and Iran was blown up in the province of Agri in Turkey, according to the authorities PKK involvement was suspected[26] while, in a Kurdish town a sergeant of the Turkish army was killed; according to the army, the PKK is responsible.[27] In another province, a police officer was kidnapped by suspected Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants in southeastern Turkey.[28]

In the night between 28–29 July, a new wave of shelling was launched, PKK camps in Zap, Metina, Gara, Avaşin-Basyan, Hakurk and the Qandil Mountains in northern Iraq were hit by Turkish fighter jets in an operation named after the recently killed gendarmerie major, "Arslan Kulaksız".[29]

On 29 July, the oil pipeline between Kirkuk (Iraq) and Ceyhan (Turkey) was blown up in the east Turkey, in the Sirnak province[30] while in Hakkari, police quarters was under attack with heavy arms, including rocket launchers and long barrel rifles.[31] In an other attack, one soldier was killed and 4 other were wounded in an attack in the Doğubeyazıt district in the eastern province of Ağri.[32]

On 30 July, Turkish fighter jets flew over the YPG-held towns of Kobani and Sarrin at the same time as an ISIS attack on Sarrin town.[citation needed] On 31 July, Turkish reconnaissance aircraft once again flew over YPG territory in the north of Syria. While in Iraq, Turkish fighter jets shelling massively PKK positions.[33]

On 30 July, a policeman and a civilian were killed in the town of Cinar by PKK guerilla according to the authoritie,[34] while three soldiers were killed in the attack of their convoy by PKK fighters in the province of Sirnak.[35]

On 31 July, Turkish fighter jets shelled bases of PKK in the north of Iraq, with 30 warplanes were involved. This operation was named "Hamza Yıldırım" in honor of the Corporal Hamza Yıldırım killed by the PKK in Turkey few day earlier.[36]

On 31 July, two policemen and two PKK fighters were killed by the PKK, in a PKK raid on a police station in Pozanti, Adana. In a separate incident, PKK rebels bombed a railway line in the province of Kars in the country's east, killing a worker,[37][38] while three PKK fighters were killed in Agri province.[39]

August[edit]

On 1 August, two PKK fighters were killed and one civilian wounded in an attack in Çatak[40] while PKK fighters took 70 hostages for two hours in the Kars-Erzurum-Iğdır highway.[41] One soldier was killed in a mine explosion in Kars Province, reportedly by PKK.[42]

On 2 August, a suicide bomber attacked a military station in Dogubayazit, Agri Province. The attack resulted in the deaths of two Turkish soldiers and 31 injuries.[citation needed] Separately one soldier was killed and four injured after a military convoy hit a mine in the Mardin Province. Both attacks were blamed on the PKK.[37]

On 3 August, two Turkish soldiers were injured after a landmine exploded in Diyarbakir, reportedly by the PKK.[43]

On 4 August, PKK forces attacked a guard post in Sirnak Province with an RPG killing one soldier and injuring another. In a separate attack, a mine killed two soldiers, also in Sirnak Province resulting in Turkish F-16s targeting PKK camps in the country's Hakkari Province, with no information on casualties.

On 5 August, a PKK bombing left one civilian dead in Cizre, Sirnak Province. Another bombing, this time in Bitlis, caused no casualties or damage. Clashes occurred, in Diyarbakir Province, Hakkari Province and Bitlis Province with no reported casualties.[44]

On 6 August, clashes were reported in Tunceli Province, with no reported casualties.[44]

On 7 August, PKK attacks left eight dead during numerous attacks. In Silopi, Sirnak Province, five were killed during clashes between Police and the PKK, resulting in the deaths of at least one soldier and one police officer. In Dogubayazit, Agri Province, a PKK attack left one soldier and one militant dead. A PKK attack on a police patrol in Milyat, Mardin Province killed one police officer. Elsewhere clashes were reported in Cizre and Uludere, Sirnak Province, Baskale, Van Province and Nusaybin, Mardin Province. PKK militants were also reported to have hijacked a minibus near Beytussebap, Sirnak Province.[45][46]

On 10 August, nine were killed in a series of PKK attacks in Turkey. In Istanbul, a car bomb targeted a police station, injuring ten police officers, one police officer and two attackers were killed in subsequent clashes. Two others attackers launched an attack on the US consulate in Istanbul however there were no casualties, police arrest one of the attackers, a female, in clashes following the attack. In Silpoi, Sirnak Province, a mine hit a police convoy killing four officers. In Beytussebap, Sirnak Province, militants opened fire on a military helicopter, killing one soldier.[47] Turkish security forces killed a Kurdish woman named Kevser Elturk (Ekin Van), took a picture of her body after they stripped her naked, and distributed the photo and they were congratulated by Turkish nationalists.[48][49][50]

On 13 August, three were killed in PKK attacks, a gendarmerie sergeant was killed by a PKK landmine in Bingol Province.[citation needed] Two PKK insurgents were killed in clashes in Beytussebap, Sirnak Province.[51]

On 14 August, four were killed in a series of PKK attacks. Three soldiers were killed and six injured during clashes with the PKK in Daglica, Hakkari Province. A civilian was killed during clashes between Police and the PKK in Baglar, Diyarbakir Province.[51]

On 19 August, eight Turkish soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb [52]

September[edit]

On 3 September, a PKK bomb killed 4 Turkish police officers in Mardin province.[53]

On September 5, the Turkish security forces besieged Cizre, in a one-week operation. The operations were reported to result in about 30 deaths among city's Kurdish residents.[54]

On 6 September, a double bombing on a military convoy in Hakkari Province killed 16-31 Turkish soldiers.[55]

On 8 September, PKK forces ambushed a Police minibus killing 14 officers. A second attack also resulted in the shooting and killing of a police officer by PKK forces.[55]

On 25 September, two Turkish soldiers were killed and nine injured during clashes with the PKK.[citation needed]

On 25–26 September, 34 Kurdish rebels, 4 civilans and 2 Turkish Soldiers were killed in Sirnak Province. PKK sources reported the death toll as 14 Kurdish rebels and 75 Turkish Soldiers.[56][57]

The Turkish police used "Armenian" as an insult to refer to the Kurdish people in Cizre and Burhan Kuzu, a senior adviser to the President of Turkey, claimed that PKK members were uncircumcised implying that they were non-Muslim Armenians, suggesting that non-Muslims are terrorists and trying to drive a wedge between "Muslim" Kurds and the PKK.[58]

October[edit]

Further information: 2015 Hakkari assault

On 2 October, the Turkish military entered the southeastern Kurdish-majority city of Silvan, in the Diyarbakır Province with tanks, armored carriers and hundreds of troops to seek out and destroy PKK elements within the city. Resulting clashes left at least 17 PKK militants dead while locals also reported the Turkish military had bombed civilian areas with artillery.[59]

Hacı Lokman Birlik, a 24 year old Kurd and brother in law of HDP MP Leyla Birlik, was killed by Turkish security forces, and his body was tied to a vehicle and dragged along a street by the Turkish police. The pro-Erdoğan Sabah newspaper defended the act and claimed that dragging corpses by vehicle was standard procedure in case of a body being booby trapped with explosives.[60]

On 10th October, a double suicide bombing was carried out in Ankara during an anti-war demonstration rally held by pro-Kurdish and communist civilians. The bombing resulted in at least 102 killed amongst pro-peace demonstrators.

November[edit]

On 5th November, the Turkish military concluded the 40-day long 2015 Hakkari assault ground offensive in which hundreds of PKK fighters were killed, dozens of their bunkers were destroyed and dozens of anti-aircraft weaponry was captured, inn what remains an ongoing offensive against the Communist guerillas.[61]

On 15th November the Turkish Air Force bombarded 44 different locations with F-16's F-4E 2020 Terminator's and unmanned drones in Northern Iraq in response to the PKK attempting to reconstruct depots, barracks, bunkers and hideouts that were destroyed earlier this year by the air strikes conducted on the 31st of July. [62]

On 21st November the Turkish Air Force struck 23 different locations in the Şırnak border province and in Northern Iraq destroying caches and hideouts severing PKK supply lines. [63] On Saturday these included supply and shelter points in the mountains of Semidinli, Hakkari, south-east Turkey, north of their Iraqi and Iranian borders.

On 22nd November the Turkish Air Force struck 7 different locations in the Hakkâri Province on the Iraqi border killing 10 PKK militants and destroying several shelters and supply points.[64] Two civilians were also killed during the curfew in the Nusaybin district of Mardin province on the Sunday whch on Monday 23rd entered its tenth consecutive day.[65]

References[edit]

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Bibliography
  • The Daily Telegraph (English)
  • Le Figaro (French)
  • L'Orient-Le Jour (French)
  • BBC News (english)
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