Syrian National Army aims to save civilians from terror

TAL ABYAD, Syria

Syrian National Army (SNA) commanders on Saturday said they are aiming to protect civilians in the region from terrorists.

Commanders and soldiers of the SNA spoke to civilians in the region -- which was cleared of YPG/PKK terrorists -- telling them they should not be frightened and that they should continue to live in peace.

"We are in the rural area of Tal Abyad. On one side of mine, I have my brother Aziz, my Armenian brother Anto Beu Haci and other side there is an Arab, Abdulaziz. We address the whole world. We do not discriminate between Armenians, Christians, Arabs, Turkmens and Kurds as Syrian National Army in dear Syria," Yusuf Abdul, a SNA commander said in his speech.

He went on to say that they have come to liberate the region from the terrorist organization YPG/PKK, adding people have confidence that “we will protect their lives and property”.

"We are Turkmens, Arabs and Kurdish children. I also address the friends who participated in the Operation Peace Spring: you are entrusted with the lives and properties of the Kurdish people east of the Euphrates,” said Sadi Misso, a Kurdish commander of the SNA.

Turkey on Wednesday launched Operation Peace Spring east of the Euphrates River in northern Syria to secure its borders by eliminating terrorist elements and to ensure the safe return of Syrian refugees and Syria’s territorial integrity.

Ankara wants to eliminate terrorist elements of the PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the PYD/YPG, from the region.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union -- has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.