Turkish Army launched an air operation against terrorist PKK targets near northern Iraqi city of Sinjar in the early hours of Monday. PKK affiliated accounts have also simultaneously launched propaganda warfare on Twitter claiming Turkish army bombing Yazidis. Leading Yazidi figure Naida Murad and official Twitter account of Yazidi foundation also posted contents supporting terrorist PKK propaganda but experts warn that becoming a PKK asset would only hurt Yazidi cause.
Just a couple of weeks ago, head of terrorist PKK, Murat Karayilan admitted that Turkish army’s recent operations successfully killed 18 prominent PKK figures. The PKK’s top commander said the precision of Turkish army was enabled by reconnaissance but more importantly successful local intelligence sources. Senior commanders of terrorist PKK have reportedly been moving on mules to dodge Turkish drones and jets as PKK has been paralyzed by successful operations of Turkey.
Terrorist PKK and its Syrian offshoot PYD have been known for taking advantage of propagating tools and promote them through vast networks of a social media army supported by the western media and the journalists. This was the case when PYD successfully created a perception through its female fighters and the story was widely circulated in the western media. That was one of the strongest tools of PYD in its battle to legitimize itself.
After suffering the worst blows since it was founded and waged war on Turkish state, terrorist PKK took up propaganda once again to put international pressure on Turkish state to stop its operations. After Turkey conducted most comprehensive air campaign into northern Iraq and pounded terrorist hideouts, PKK’s network this time played the Yazidi card. Several thousand troll and bot accounts on Twitter posted tens of thousands of contents accusing Turkey of bombing Yazidis. Prominent Yazidi figure Naida Murad also joined the PKK propaganda to claim that Turkey was attacking Yazidi land. Official Twitter account of Yazidi foundation followed the suit.
Previous statement of top PKK commander, Murat Karayilan, had revealed the truth that Turkey’s intelligence gathering in the region has been excellent. Turkish jets and drones have been carrying out surgical hits in bunkers and hideouts on prominent PKK figures. Turkish journalist Yusuf Erim pointed out to the fact on his twitter account that no civilians live in areas under operation. Former Turkish envoy to Chicago, Umut Acar also reminded his followers on Twitter that the area has been used by the terrorist PKK for 40 years as a logistic and training center to assault Turkish state.
Yazidis suffered great atrocities in the hands of terrorist ISIS whom also launched several deadly attacks in Turkey. The whole world embraced them as they fled genocide in the northern Iraq. Ankara-based journalist Cetin Bostan whom closely follow developments in Iraq and Syria warns being used as a propaganda tool now by another terror group would only harm Yazidi cause.
