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The National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces (SMDK) has voiced support for Turkey’s planned military operation in Syria, east of the Euphrates River, near Turkish borders.
In a statement, Abdurrahman Mustafa, head of the coalition, said the Syrian people continue to suffer at the hands of the Bashar al-Assad regime forces, as well as Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hezbollah and the PYD.
The YPG/PKK terror group continues to pose a threat to Turkish territories using the internal conflict in Syria as an opportunity.The terrorist organization, which occupied a 480-kilometer (298 miles) of land on Turkey-Syria border, recently increased its activities against Turkey.In the last three years, Turkey came under many harassment fires by the terrorists.Their efforts to carry out terror activities inside Turkey have been prevented by successful operations of security forces, who seized large amounts of explosives in border cities such as Hatay, Kilis, Gaziantep, Mardin and Sanliurfa.- Operation Olive Branch dealt heavy blow to YPG/PKKThe Operation Olive Branch, which was conducted by Turkish Armed Forces in Afrin, ended the terror group YPG/PKK’s presence in northwestern Syria.The terrorists targeting civilians in Hatay and Kilis provinces killed seven people, while injuring 113 others by rockets and mortars they fired as Turkey started operation in the region.During the operation, terrorists carried out rocket and mortar attacks 60 times on Hatay, and 34 times on Kilis.The terrorists also targeted a mosque in Kilis, and caused the death of two civilians.Many houses, vehicles and shops were damaged in the residential areas in the two provinces, which came under the terror attacks.- Harassment fires on police stationsIn 2015-2017, the YPG/PKK conducted 12 attacks on border posts in Hatay and Kilis, and martyred two soldiers, and injured another.In April 2017, the terrorists attacked a tank with a howitzer in Sanliurfa province. Turkish forces responded the attack, which caused no loss of lives.During the same period, the YPG/PKK terrorists attacked border posts in Mardin five times. Three soldiers were slightly injured, while security forces destroyed terror targets in a response.In January 2018, the terrorists also targeted border posts in Mardin’s Nusaybin district with harassment fires for two days in a row. No loss was reported in the attacks.- Plans to drown cities in bloodEight Syrian suspects carrying 146 kilograms (321 pounds) of explosives were captured as they tried to enter Turkey from the YPG/PKK-occupied region of Syria in July 2017.One of the terrorists confessed in his testimony that they had buried some of the explosives in soil after covering them with powdered chili pepper to prevent detector dogs from finding them.In August 2018, security forces seized 25 kilograms (55 pounds) of explosives from a vehicle travelling from Hatay to Gaziantep. More explosives of 5 kilograms (11 pounds) were also found in a raid at homes of the terrorists.Last month, a terrorist, who entered Turkey from YPG/PKK-controlled Tal Abyad region and learned to have been trained to be a suicide bomber, was captured in Gaziantep.Over 247 kilograms (544 pounds) of explosives were also seized from a vehicle during controls in Mardin province. The terrorists, who brought the explosives into Turkey, were preparing to carry out attacks in metropolitan cities of the country.Eight anti-personnel rocket launcher ammunition headers, nine propelling cartridges and 67 Kalashnikov rifle magazines belonging to the YPG/PKK terrorist organization were found in the Bulamacli village of Kilis.In 2016-2018, five tunnels, measuring 35 meters (114 feet) by 400 meters (1,312 feet), were found by security forces in Mardin’s Nusaybin district. The tunnels heading to Syria’s Kamisli region were destroyed by security forces.
YPG/PKK terrorists continue to pose threat to Turkey
As Turkey prepares to launch an anti-terror operation east of the Euphrates River, Syrians living in the southeastern Turkish province of Sanliurfa have started hoping of the day when they will return to their homeland.On Wednesday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that within days Turkey would launch an operation in Syria, east of the Euphrates, near Turkey’s borders, to clear the region of PKK/YPG terrorists.Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Vail Abut, a resident of Syria’s Tal Abyad living in Turkey’s Akcakale district, said he is pleased by Erdogan’s statement regarding the expected military operation.“We expect Turkish army to clear the region, located east of the Euphrates, of terrorists as soon as possible. The day, when our soil is cleared of terrorists, we would return to our homes with Allah’s will,” Abut said.Dozens of people in Tal Abyad had to flee to Akcakale district of Sanliurfa province due to the pressure and violence of YPG/PKK terror group. They have been living in Turkey for around three years.Abut said his relatives near Raqqah were ready to give support to the operation expected to be launched by the Turkish military.Hamed Halit, another Tal Abyad resident, also voiced his support for the planned operation.“We are ready to extend support to them [Turkish military], if they need it after the launch of the operation,” Halit said.“YPG/PKK terror group seized our homes and lands by force. We’ve started dreaming of returning to our home with [Turkish president] Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s statement.”“Only Erdogan defends our rights,” he said.Previously, Turkey launched two successful anti-terror operations since 2016 to foil the formation of a “terror corridor” along Turkey’s border.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.
Turkey’s planned operation gives hope to Syrians
Any military operation to eliminate these terror groups "will be welcomed and supported by us," Mustafa said, adding: "We are working with our Turkish ally to liberate all cities and towns from the control of terrorist forces."
He also stressed that all the Free Syrian Army members stand ready to cooperate and join in the upcoming military operation.
"We share this view with the Turkish Republic the separatist projects and terror constitute a direct threat to Turkey’s national security as well as to Syria’s territorial integrity and unity," he added.
On Wednesday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that within days Turkey would launch an operation east of the Euphrates to clear the region of PKK/YPG terrorists.
Previously, Turkey launched two successful anti-terror operations since 2016 to foil the formation of a “terror corridor” along Turkey’s border.
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.