Ankara changes strategy in fight as PKK shifts from mountains to cities
by Hazal Ateş
ANKARASep 08, 2015 - 12:00 am GMT+3
by Hazal Ateş
Sep 08, 2015 12:00 am
Following the extraordinarily convened security meeting after the PKK's attack in Dağlıca on Sunday, it was decided that the fight against the terrorist organization will continue within a new framework with several new practices.
According to the new framework, security measures will be increased to the maximum level in which possibilities of suicide bomb attacks with stolen and fake licensed vehicles on police and military offices will be evaluated. Reportedly, the framework includes cutting the flow of weapons to the terrorists, including night vision thermal gun systems and anti-armor rockets. Furthermore, security officials will prevent terrorists from using satellite phones.
The PKK recently changed the tactics it had applied with its Syrian wing Democratic Union Party's (PYD) armed People's Protection Units (YPG) during clashes with Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) terrorists in Syria, with practices for clashes in cities. In the security meeting it was discussed how terrorists who use snipers, rocket launchers and produce hand-made grenades are sent from the region and organize the PKK's youth branch, the Patriotic Revolutionary Youth Movement (YDG-H), in provinces and districts against the police and the military.
While reportedly PKK headquarters in northern Iraq's Qandil Mountains authorized local members for attacks and demonstrations, the YDG-H makes decisions for attacks by its own initiative.
Accordingly, the government is also in pursuit of developing never before seen practices in the fight against the PKK. A regulation was issued in the Official Gazette on Aug. 31 for citizens for the first time to be rewarded monetarily for information on the organization's senior cadre.
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