Anadolu Agency’s Op. Peace Spring book meets readers

ANKARA

Anadolu Agency’s latest feature book shedding light on Turkey’s 35-year-old fight against the PKK terror group and its presence in Syrian territory through YPG, has met readers at Tuyap Fair on Friday.

The 94-page book, Turkey's Fight Against Terrorism, Operation Peace Spring, was compiled with contributions of experts.

The book reveals the origins of the PKK terror organization, its structure, aim and methods, massacres, and recruitment methods, as well as the terrorist activities of the YPG -- Syrian offshoot of the PKK terror group.

Anadolu Agency Director General Senol Kazanci, in the preface, underlined that the Turkish government has always backed the territorial integrity of Syria since the eruption of civil war in 2011.

Stressing that Turkey has spearheaded the international activities, Kazanci added Turkey would not allow separatist groups such as Daesh/ISIS and the YPG/PKK to establish a "terror corridor" along its borders.

Turkey, resolved to eliminate the YPG/PKK threat in northern Syria and country’s anti-terror operation, seeking to ensure the return of Syrian refugees in the area, was based on international law, he said.

Turkey hosted more than 3.6 million Syrian refugees, he reminded.

Turkey's agreements with Russia and the U.S. on the establishment of safe-zone in northern Syria following the rapid success of the operation, were a political success, Kazanci stressed.

The book told the process of the PKK terrorist structure in Turkey and Syria as well as Turkish border security, Syrian territorial integrity, threats to the safe return of Syrian refugees and legitimate reasons that led to Turkey’s operation east of the Euphrates River in Syria.

The book comprises seven chapters, including "What is the PKK," "The PKK's Syrian Offshoot the YPG and International Support for Terror," "Aims and Operations of Operation Peace Spring", "Development of the Operation", "Structure of Syrian National Army and Its Support for the Operation," "Results of the Operation and Agreements Made," and "YPG/PKK Manipulation and Disinformation Campaign".

Operation Peace Spring, launched on Oct. 9, aims to eliminate terrorist YPG/PKK elements from northern Syria east of the Euphrates River in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.

The U.S. and Turkey on Oct. 17 came to an agreement to pause Turkey's anti-terror operation in northern Syria for 120 hours in order to allow the withdrawal of terrorist YPG/PKK forces from the planned safe zone.

On Oct. 22, Turkey reached an agreement with Russia on a 10-point plan to force the terrorist YPG/PKK to withdraw from a planned terror-free zone.

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. The YPG is the PKK’s Syrian offshoot.

While the U.S. recognizes the PKK as a terrorist group, it has ignored evidence supplied by Turkey that the YPG is in fact part of the same terrorist group.