Turkish Intelligence neutralizes senior PJAK leader in Iraq's al-Sulaymaniyah
Shafaq News/ Turkish intelligence have neutralized Islam Dotkanlou, asenior leader of the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK), along with his bodyguardAkam Shahi (Akam ?ahe), also known as " ?ivan Çiya," in an operationin al-Sulaymaniyah, in Kurdistan Region, state-run Anadolu Agency reported onWednesday.
Anadolu noted that Dotkanlou was a high-priority target for Turkishintelligence and that Shahi, Dotkanlou’s bodyguard, was the founder of theso-called Eastern Kurdistan Defense Units (YRK).
Founded in 2004, PJAK, the Iranian offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers'Party (PKK) which Turkiye and Iran regard as a terrorist organization, operatesas both a political and military organization advocating for the autonomy ofKurdish regions in Iran. The group maintains its base in the Qandil Mountainsnear the Iran-Iraq border.
Iran accuses the United States and Israel of supporting PJAK financiallyand militarily, alleging that the group is used as a tool to exert pressure onthe Iranian government.
