August 31, 2016•Update: August 31, 2016
JARABULUS, Syria
Life has begun returning to normal for residents of Jarabulus in northern Syrian, a week after the Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) liberated the city.
The owners of bakeries, grocery shops and market stalls have reemerged to start up their businesses again since Daesh was forced from the city with the launch of Operation Euphrates Shield on Aug. 25.
On Wednesday, shoppers flooded the city center with electricity generators proving popular in a city that still suffers intermittent power shortages.
“We are very happy that the Free Syrian Army has freed us from the terrorists,” a local resident who would only give his name as Mohammed said. “Everyone will be better off. We are so grateful for Operation Euphrates Shield, which has made it happen.”
He added: “I had been sentenced to 15 lashes because my beard wasn’t grown enough as required. Most of shopkeepers left the town due to lack of business.”
Another local who asked not to be named described Daesh’s tyranny as “hell” and said most people fled the city when they took control more than three years ago.
The FSA has now taken control of an area of around 400 square kilometers (154 square miles), reaching the confluence of the Euphrates and Sajur rivers, a Turkish military source said on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.
FSA forces also tightened security across the region, establishing checkpoints and checking documents.
Reporting by Sarp Ozer; Writing by Ahmet Sait Akcay
