This is the year of war, says senior PKK commander

ISTANBUL

Hürriyet Photo

The outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has vowed to make 2012 the group’s “year of war,” according to daily Milliyet.

“Do not let them even take a breath,” said Fehman Hüseyin, head of the PKK's action group. "This is our year of war.”

According to intelligence units, Hüseyin, nicknamed “Bahoz,” gave instructions to the PKK's mountain teams and evaluated the recent clashes in the southeastern province of Şırnak’s Cudi Mountain through a series of walkie-talkie conversations.

He also reportedly ordered mountain teams to spread out over the area and to move in small groups as they pass through rural areas.

Hüseyin has been allegedly receiving treatment in Syria after being wounded on Kandil Mountain.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.