Omer Koparan and Adham Kako
16 October 2019•Update: 16 October 2019
TAL ABYAD / RAS AL-AYN, Syria
The Syrian National Army (SNA), Turkey’s allies in its anti-terror operation in northern Syria, are meeting with locals in liberated villages and spreading messages of peace and fellowship.
“We’ve come here to liberate you. Arabs, Kurds, and Christians are all equal in our eyes. We don’t discriminate,” a Syrian National Army commander on Wednesday told locals recently liberated from YPG/PKK terrorists.
Operation Peace Spring was launched on Oct. 9 to eliminate YPG/PKK terrorists from northern Syria in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.
On day eight of the operation, Anadolu Agency cameras captured meetings between liberated locals and SNA soldiers.
Telling the locals they have nothing to fear, the commander said: “I have just one request: If you see mines or traps, show us where they are.”
“We’re here to wipe out the PKK” terrorist group, the commander stressed, adding: “Kurds are our brothers.”
A villager thanked the Syrian National Army soldiers for their struggle, saying, “They [YPG/PKK] seized my house two years ago. Today, you returned it.”
“May God bless you. I hope you will gain a victory over them,” he said.
At least 46 Syrian National Army (SNA) soldiers have been martyred and 136 others injured during Operation Peace Spring in northern Syria since last week.
Ankara wants to clear northern Syria east of the Euphrates River of the terrorist PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the PYD/YPG.
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 deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.
