Turkey began the land and air operation “Claw-Tiger” on June 17 against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and groups Ankara says are affiliated with it.

Bestoon Khalid stated that Turkey is seeking to make a buffer zone in the north of Iraq and that the leadership of the Syrian Kurdish enclave known as Rojava is gaining experience and mastering administration and governance, continuing to say that the fight against Kurds always brings regional states together.

Several countries are growing increasingly concerned over Turkey’s military operations in Kurdistan Region, analyst Seth J. Frantzman told Ahval news agency on Sunday.

Head of the People's Defense Forces (HPG) Murat Karayilan argued in an interview published on Wednesday, July 1, by media outlets affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) that Turkey wants to conquer the Kurdistan Region and the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria.

“The aim of the enemy is to create a supposedly conflict-free zone. They did the same thing in Rojava,” Karayilan said, using the Kurdish name for northeastern Syria.

“They want to set up a safe zone from Khwakwrk [in Duhok governorate] to Afrin and, if they succeed, they will conquer the whole region and the Kurdistan Region also,” he added in the interview.

The HPG is the armed wing of the PKK, which has been waging a decades long fight against Ankara to achieve Kurdish rights in southeastern Turkey.

Meanwhile Kurdish militia groups have accused Turkey of establishing military bases in Kurdistan Region in the north of Iraq as part of Ankara’s ongoing offensive against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), the Al Arabiya broadcaster reports on Sunday.

According to a militia group spokesman, Turkish troops have already moved up to 25 miles into Iraqi territory as part of Operation Claw-Tiger, the broadcaster reported.

The militia considers the Turkish encroachment to be a violation of Iraqi sovereignty, the broadcaster said, citing the spokesman.

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