Ali Murat Alhas
21 December 2018•Update: 21 December 2018
By Rauf Maltas
SANLIURFA, Turkey
The Syrian people welcome U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria, Omer Dede, vice-president of the Syrian Turkmen and Arab Tribal Association, said Friday.
"The U.S. finally found the right way. For the first time, it has made a good decision for Syria. As Syrians, we welcome this decision," Dede told Anadolu Agency.
Saying the world had long remained silent to developments in Syria, Dede asserted that the global community -- particularly the U.S. and Russia -- had started focusing on the country after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's announcement of a planned military campaign east of the Euphrates River.
Dede said that Turkey had adopted a resolute policy on Syria, manifested in its “Euphrates Shield” and “Olive Branch” operations, going on to note that the planned operation east of the Euphrates had “seriously intimidated” the PYD/PKK terrorist group.
Pointing out that the Syrian Turkmen and Arab Tribal Association welcomed the U.S. decision, he added: “We are the true owners of the region east of the Euphrates. The PYD/PKK occupied our land there. God willing, the terrorists will flee once the U.S. withdraws and we return to our homeland.”
Dede urged the international community to closely follow Trump’s promised troop withdrawal.
"We expect Washington to follow through with its decision, which the international community must pressure the U.S. to implement,” he said.
“Once the U.S. withdraws, the PYD/PKK won't find any quarter… and will be forced to flee, after which we will finally be able to return to our homes," he added.
Trump made the withdrawal announcement on the eve of an anticipated Turkish military operation in northeastern Syria against the YPG/PYD/PKK terrorist group.
Since 2016, Ankara has conducted two major military operations in the region with the stated aim of destroying the terrorist presence there.
*Ali Murat Alhas contributed to this report from Ankara
