Old photos being used to discredit Afrin Operation

By Fatma Esma Arslan

ANKARA

Three photographs, which were claimed to be taken during Turkey’s operation in Syria’s northwestern Afrin region, have turned out to be old photos that were captured during different incidents in the past.

Black propaganda against Turkish military began soon after it launched Operation Olive Branch Afrin on Saturday to clear PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists from the region.

One of the photographs was captured during a fire incident in Kuwait’s Salmiya province that occurred on Apr. 26, 2016.

The photo was shared on Twitter with the claim that Turkey dropped bomb on civilians in Afrin.

Another picture, which shows a tank in flames, was being shared on Facebook with the claim that the Turkish Armed Forces were hit in northern Afrin’s Bulbul village.

The photograph was actually taken on July 19, 2014 in Khan Yunis city of Gaza Strip.

The third picture was being shared on Twitter with the claim that a woman was injured and frozen to death during the operation in Afrin. The photo was originally taken on Jan. 18, 2018.

The photo showed a woman was frozen to death together with her family on highlands, while they tried to enter Lebanon from Syria’s border.

Also, a picture of an injured child was being circulated on some social media accounts. It claimed to be taken during the Afrin operation.

The claim was false and the photo was actually captured in 2016.

Turkish General Staff asserted that the aim of the operation is to establish security and stability along Turkish borders and the region and protect the Syrian people from the oppression and cruelty of terrorists.

The operation was being carried out under the framework of Turkey’s rights based on international law, UN Security Council’s decisions, self-defense rights under the UN charter and respect to Syria's territorial integrity, the military added.

It also said only terrorist targets were being destroyed and "utmost importance" was being given to not harm any civilian.

Afrin has been a major hideout for the PYD/PKK since July 2012 when the Assad regime in Syria left the city to the terror group without putting up a fight.

The PYD/PKK is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK terrorist group, which has been designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU.