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Members of the PKK terrorist organization have reportedly crossed from northern Iraq into Syria to reinforce the YPG/SDF. Multiple convoys carrying armed militants and heavy weapons have arrived in Qamishli and Hasakah, as the group violated a ceasefire on its first day, killing 11 Syrian soldiers.
Buses carrying PKK members entered Qamishli from Iraq, with terrorists seen wearing assault vests and carrying weapons in civilian clothing.
According to the recent reports Türkiye was closely monitoring the expulsion of approximately 8,000 non-Syrian PKK members from the SDF as part of the 14-point integration agreement between the terror group and Syrian government.
"Within SDF, there are 8,000 PKK members, mostly Turkish, Iranian and Iraqi. Foreigners will be deported. This step is viewed as critical for 'terror-free Türkiye.' Ankara will also assist Damascus with security investigation for SDF joining Syrian army," the security sources cited by Turkish media outlet Türkiye daily said.
The SDF has always denied ties with the Iraq-based PKK. However, after the Syrian Army's advance, posters of imprisoned PKK ringleader Abdullah Ocalan and other pro-PKK materials were found in the SDF's headquarters.
The YPG, which dominates the SDF, is considered by Türkiye to be the Syrian branch of the PKK. The PKK is listed as a terrorist group by Türkiye, the United States and the European Union.
Heavy weapons were also observed among the militants crossing into Hasakah.
Trucks claiming to carry "humanitarian aid" from northern Iraq arrived in YPG/SDF-controlled Qamishli in late Wednesday, accompanied by numerous PKK terrorists who spread throughout the region.
Peshmerga forces—whether affiliated with Talabani or Barzani remains unknown—are transporting armored vehicles to the YPG/SDF while PKK terrorists continue crossing through the Habur border crossing into Syria.
The ceasefire is being used by the YPG/SDF to receive PKK reinforcements from Iraq and Bafel Talabani-affiliated "counterterrorism group" elements, allowing the terrorist organization to strengthen defense lines and reposition forces.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani visited Nineveh and Anbar provinces on Jan. 21, conducting inspections at military units along the Iraq-Syria border.
Syria said Wednesday that 11 soldiers were killed and more than 25 wounded in ceasefire violations by the YPG/SDF terrorist organization on the first day of the announced deal.
Seven soldiers were killed in al-Yarubiyah in northeastern Hasaka province, two near Mount Abdul Aziz south of Hasaka, and two in the Sirin area east of Aleppo, Alikhbariah TV reported.
The Syrian Defense Ministry said seven soldiers were killed and 20 wounded in a drone attack targeting an ammunition site near the al-Yarubiyah border crossing, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).
Army units discovered a workshop for manufacturing improvised explosive devices and drone munitions near the border crossing containing several Iranian-made drones that the SDF was preparing to arm. After troops began securing the site, the SDF targeted it with a suicide drone.
The army's Operations Command said that within 20 hours of the ceasefire agreement, SDF forces carried out multiple attacks on Syrian Army positions including drone strikes near Sarrin, heavy gunfire from al-Sanaa village and surrounding hills east of Aleppo, and artillery shelling at Kharab Ashiq village and al-Aliyah grain silos in Hasaka countryside.
SDF forces attacked army positions south of Mount Abdul Aziz using three armored vehicles and several wheeled military vehicles, with clashes lasting more than two hours after midnight.
The fighting resulted in two soldier deaths and destruction of an army tank.
The SDF also targeted military vehicles near Sarrin with suicide drones, destroying one vehicle and setting another ablaze.
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