Süleyman Soylu
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 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
At least 23 terrorists including a senior operative were neutralized in counter-terrorism operations across Turkey over the past week, the country's Interior Ministry said on Monday.Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.The ministry said in a statement that a total of 2,404 anti-terror operations were conducted on Dec. 10-17.Aysenur Inci, a terrorist on the ministry's wanted list, surrendered to security forces on Saturday at the Habur border gate on the Turkey-Iraq border, according to the Sirnak Governor’s Office.Inci had been involved in terrorist activities as a Daesh member in Turkey's southeastern Adiyaman province before she went to Syria to join the terror group's activities.Syrian opposition vows support for Turkish op east of EuphratesTurkish aid agency builds key facilities in Moro regionSecurity forces also seized 28 hand grenades, 482 kilograms of explosive material, 13 improvised explosives, 20 long-barreled weapons and 7,499 ammunition.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 nearly 40,000 people, including women and children.The security forces arrested 3,351 suspects for crimes linked to drugs and smuggling, 751 others for aiding and abetting terror organizations and 226 suspects for human trafficking.A total of 3,821 irregular migrants were caught during the operations, according to the statement.Turkish army ‘neutralizes’ 10 PKK terrorists in N IraqTurkey hopes to completely wipe out PKK terror group, says DefMin
23 terrorists 'neutralized' over past week in Turkey
At least 17 civilians were killed on Sunday when the U.S.-led coalition launched airstrikes at a mosque in Syria's eastern Deir Ez-Zour province.Local sources told Anadolu Agency that the airstrikes were carried out in the Daesh-held Hejjin district on the eastern outskirts of Deir ez-Zour city.The airstrikes targeted a mosque in Buhatir village, killing 17 civilians, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons.In November, at least 17 civilians, mostly women and children, were killed when a U.S.-led coalition shelled the village of Albo Badran near the Daesh-held town of Al-Sousse.Previously in the same month, The coalition forces targeted the same area, killing 20 civilians.Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected ferocity.Syrian opposition vows support for Turkish op east of EuphratesPKK/PYD terrorists in Syria will be buried in trenches they dig: ErdoğanCar bombing kills four in Syria’s Afrin
US coalition airstrikes kill 17 in Syria's Deir ez-Zour