Syria: People return to Jarabulus after Daesh is ousted

By Mohamad Misto

JARABULUS, Syria

Some of the displaced people started to return to Jarabulus Thursday after the Free Syrian Army (FSA) forces liberated the city from Daesh militants as part of Turkey’s military operation in Syria to clear terrorist elements along the country’s border.

According to Anadolu Agency correspondents who entered the city, FSA forces, who ousted Daesh from the city Wednesday, have been working to ensure that life returns to normal as soon as possible.

The FSA commanders, who spoke to AA on condition of anonymity, said that Daesh militants fled the city, but FSA members were searching for any bombs that might have been planted by the militants.

Mohammed Kenkeri, one of the displaced residents, said that he was happy to return to his hometown, and thanked Turkey for its support in clearing the region of Daesh.

"I hope this peace will be maintained and things will be back to normal again," he said.

Turkish Special Forces Commander Zekai Aksakalli also visited Jarabulus on Thursday and made some inspections.

Turkish military’s Operation Euphrates Shield in Syria was launched early Wednesday, when artillery and airstrikes were followed by Turkish tanks crossing the border to target Daesh in support of the Free Syrian Army fighters.

The operation is in line with the country’s right to self-defense borne out of international treaties and a mandate given to Turkey’s armed forces by the Turkish parliament in 2014, which was extended for another year in September 2015.

Since January, rocket attacks on the Turkish province of Kilis from Daesh-held territory in Syria have killed at least 21 people while terrorist attacks in Gaziantep blamed on Daesh include Saturday’s suicide bombing of a wedding that killed 54 and a car bomb attack in May that martyred two police officers.