Ever since the PKK reshuffled their executive structure and schema in Qandil, which placed Cemil Bayık as head of the KCK and Murat Karayılan as the head of the HPG, the terrorist organization's military wing, there have been two separate yet consecutive divisions in the PKK's northern Iraq base.
According to records obtained by intelligence units on wireless communication; Syrian natives Fehman Hüseyin, who is known by the code name "Bahoz Erdal" and has been with the organization for 23 years and was one of the leaders of the PKK's Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK) wing as well as Nurettin Halef Al Muhammed whose code name is "Sofi Nurettin" and who was formerly the head of the HPG have, one after the other, deserted Qandil.
THEY WENT IN LORRY BEDS
These two terrorists, who were not given positions in the organization's new administrative structure, have now crossed into Syria accompanied by 200 terrorists who like themselves, originally hail from Syria. Within one week, both influential figures crossed over the border to Syria on lorry beds accompanied by armed protection.
Wireless communication between the terrorists revealed that the organization's leaders were not informed of the terrorists' departure from the camp in Qandil. In one conversation a terrorist is heard telling another, "They came together and left together. They haven't even told Murat Karayılan and Cemil Bayık."
A NEW CODE FOR YPG
According to intelligence units, the duo which crossed into Syria have since settled into the main camp of the YPG, the armed wing of the PKK's Syrian offshoot the Democratic Union Party in Afrin. Sources state both are not active within the YPG and are now using different wireless codenames; Bahoz Erdal is now "Sidar" and Sofi Nurettin is using "Ziyad. Allegations are that Bahoz Erdal and Sofi Nurettin may have been sent off in order to ensure they do not sabotage the solution process as well as the possibility that they may have fled Qandil based on a fear for their lives or being turned in.
BOTH ARE PRO-VIOLENCE
Bahoz Erdal joined the PKK while he was attending medical school in Syria. In 1992, he became the organization's district head for Şırnak. Bahoz Erdal, who has planned a number of bloody attacks and is known for being pro-violence, was brought on as the head of the HPG in 2004. He founded the suicide bombing and assassination unit. Bahoz Erdal has been a member of the HPG's military council since 2009. Sofi Nurettin took over for Bahoz Erdal in 2009 as the HPG's commander.
This is a translation of an article originally written by Siriberk Arslan.