‘Real owners of region to return to their homes'

ISTANBUL

Thanks to Operation Peace Spring in east of Euphrates River in northern Syria, the region will be cleared of terrorism and civilians will be liberated, the head of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces has told Anadolu Agency.

“The 'real owners' of the region will return to their homes,” Anas al-Abde said.

The operation showed the determination of the Turkish and Syrian national armies to establish a safe zone in northern Syria, he stressed.

Al-Abde added that Syrian soldiers’ fighting on the same side with the Turkish forces will further strengthen the ties between the peoples of two countries.

On Thursday, Turkey agreed for 120 hours to allow the withdrawal of terrorist YPG/PKK forces from the planned safe zone.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence also agreed on Turkey having 20 miles (32 kilometers) of safe zone south of the Turkish border in Syria.

On Oct. 9, Turkey had launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate 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.

Ankara wants to clear northern Syria east of the Euphrates River of the terrorist PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the YPG/PKK.

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.

*Writing By Zehra Nur Duz