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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.
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