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The Pentagon has handed control over the observation posts established by the U.S. on Turkey’s southern borders to terrorists from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)’s Syria affiliate, the PYD.
The posts, set up in Syria’s northern border town of Tal Abyad, are the latest attempt by PKK/PYD terrorists to monitor Turkish movements across the border, using telescopes and close-up lenses.
The observation posts are being protected by vehicles handed over by Washington to PKK/PYD terrorists.
These points are thought to be among the first targets to be struck by the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) when Turkey’s imminent operation east of the Euphrates River begins.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan last week said Turkey was set to launch an operation east of the Euphrates "within a matter of days to save it from a separatist terrorist organization", referring to the terrorist PYD/PKK.
Turkey's minister of interior anticipated Monday that the United States will try to hinder Turkey from conducting an anti-terrorism operation east of the Euphrates River in Syria to eliminate the YPG/PKK terrorist group."[The U.S.] has tried to hamper us in northern Iraq, it tried to hamper us in Afrin, [Syria]. And now, it will try to hamper us east of the Euphrates. Turkey did not let it happen back then and we will not let it happen this time," Süleyman Soylu told reporters during a visit to the Pakistani capital Islamabad.Last week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that within days Turkey would launch an operation in Syria, east of the Euphrates River, near Turkey’s borders, to clear the region of YPG/PKK terrorists.A possible mission east of the Euphrates, which Turkey’s leadership has been suggesting for months, would follow two successful cross-border Turkish operations into Syria since 2016 -- Operation Euphrates Shield and Operation Olive Branch -- both meant to eradicate the presence of YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists near Turkey’s borders."The U.S. has thought that it could intimidate us by using the men it had nurtured. It tried to set an international encirclement but we have overcome it," Soylu said.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including women and children. The YPG is its Syrian branch.Syrian Turkmen, Arabs back Turkey’s planned operation23 terrorists 'neutralized' over past week in TurkeyUS coalition airstrikes kill 17 in Syria's Deir ez-Zour
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PKK/PYD Snipers and a large number of armored vehicles in the area are said to be pointing their barrels toward Turkey as the op looms.
Tal Abyad is set to be among the most important fronts during the upcoming Turkey-led cross-border operation.
Turkish units across the border in the Akçakale-Tal Abyad zone are on full alert, with howitzers and long-barreled missile launchers, which are capable of hitting targets 40 kilometers away, at the ready.
The Pentagon established its first observation post in Syria’s Tal Abyad in early December about 2 kilometers away from the Turkish border on a hill, which has a clear view of Turkish soil.
Syrian Arabs and Turkmen on Sunday voiced their support for a planned Turkish military operation east of the Euphrates River against the YPG/PKK terrorist group.Omer Dede, vice president of the Syrian Arab and Turkmen Tribes Association, said they welcomed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Wednesday remarks that an operation to clear the region, located east of the Euphrates, of the YPG/PKK terrorists will start "in a few days".Speaking to the reporters along with 50 other members in Turkey's southeastern Sanliurfa province, Dede said they expected an immediate Turkish intervention in the region to ensure Syrians' return to their homeland."They have expelled us out of our lands. We will return to our homeland as Turkmens, Arabs and Kurds," Dede said."PYD has persecuted our Kurdish brothers the most. Those who are there now had come from Qandil and have nothing to do with our lands. Their sole concern is to divide Syria," Dede said."If the U.S. wants the elephants to play, let them play in their own country," Dede said, referring to a message that U.S. officials sent to the Syrian opposition groups on Saturday."When elephants dance, you must stay away from the dance floor," the message read, threatening the Syrian oppositions against supporting the planned operation.US coalition airstrikes kill 17 in Syria's Deir ez-Zour
Syrian Turkmen, Arabs back Turkey’s planned operation
On the opposite side of the border, the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) have an observation post in the Turkish village of Öncül, which is just 2-2.5 kilometers away from Washington’s post.
U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Nov. 21 that the United States was setting up the posts to help keep the focus on clearing the final strongholds of Daesh terrorists in Syria and avert terror threats.
“We want to be the people to call the Turks and warn them if we see something coming out of an area that we’re operating in,” Mattis said.
Last week, PKK terrorists accelerated efforts to transfer weapons received from the U.S. under the pretext of fighting Daesh to Syria’s northeastern town of Tal Abyad. The shipments particularly escalated after Turkey started to shell PKK/YPG terror positions in the city and the east of the Euphrates River.
The PYD and its military YPG wing are Syrian branches of the PKK, which has waged war against Turkey for more than 30 years.
A possible mission east of the Euphrates, which Turkey’s leadership has been suggesting for months, would follow two successful cross-border Turkish operations into Syria since 2016 – Operation Euphrates Shield and Operation Olive Branch – both meant to eradicate the presence of YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists near Turkey’s borders.