By Adham Kako and Omer Koparan
AZAZ, Syria / ANKARA, Turkey
Locals from the Syrian city of Tal Rifaat in northern Aleppo and many Free Syrian Army (FSA) members are asking Turkey to help liberate their land from YPG/PKK terrorists.
Around 500 people from Tal Rifaat -- including civilians and FSA members, and people forced to flee the city by YPG/PKK terrorists -- asked Turkey to extend its current Operation Olive Branch from Afrin, Syria to Tal Rifaat.
Mahmoud Allito, Tal Rifaat’s local council head in the nearby city of Azaz, told Anadolu Agency: “The PKK captured the region in 2016. More than 50 villages were occupied following PKK attacks. Amid heavy terror attacks, families were forced to flee to the Turkish border… Nearly 250,000 civilians were forced to flee the region.”
On the significance of Tal Rifaat, Allito said: “It borders regime-held regions. The terrorists have captured the region and seized locals’ crops… Here [Tal Rifaat] is important for them [YPG/PKK terrorists] in establishing their ‘state’ along the Turkish-Syrian border.”
“Liberating Tal Rifaat is important for the stability of the Operation Euphrates Shield region,” he added, referring to a successful Turkish operation in 2016-2017 to rid the region of terrorists.
Allito stressed that many Tal Rifaat locals chose to live in tent camps in Azaz rather than being ruled by terrorists of the YPG/PKK, the terrorist PKK's Syrian branch.
He said: “We hope that our Turkish brothers and the FSA continue their operation and liberate Tal Rifaat and its surrounding region from the occupying PKK terrorists.”
- 'Terrorists looted everything'
Bashar Allito, the bureau chief of Tal Rifaat’s military council, said Tal Rifaat was the first region to join the uprising.
"The local and military councils are taking all necessary measures in case the people of Tal Rifaat are able to return home," he added.
He said the terrorists have looted everything belonging to the civilians in the region.
Jawdat Dirbas, a Syrian who was forced to flee, said: “The PKK forced us to flee Tal Rifaat and we’ve been at the camps for two years… We thank the FSA and Turkish army and hope maybe one day they will aid us in returning home.”
Abdurrahman Abu Ali called on the Turkish army to continue Operation Olive Branch, with hopes of returning home.
Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch on Jan. 20 to clear terrorist groups from Afrin, northwestern Syria amid growing threats from the region.
On Tuesday Tal Rifaat locals demonstrated, chanting slogans against the YPG/PKK terrorist group and thanking Turkey for its operation in Afrin.
Carrying Turkish and FSA flags, they also held banners saying: “We are looking forward to Tal Rifaat operation of Free Syrian Army backed by Turkish Armed Forces.”
In early 2016, YPG/PKK terrorists used Russia’s intense air support at a time when its ties with Turkey were tense, and had the opportunity to spread to southeast of Afrin.
During its invasion of Tal Rifaat, the YPG/PKK forced around 250,000 Arabs out. Residents of the city sought refuge in Azaz, which is adjacent to the Euphrates Shield area and under opposition control.
The terrorists started to accommodate Kurdish families in Tal Rifaat who they brought from Afrin. Currently, around 15,000-20,000 Kurds and Arabs live in the district, but only 700-800 of them are Arab residents of Tal Rifaat.
On Sunday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said of Operation Olive Branch: “God willing, we will achieve this operation’s goal by taking control of Tal Rifaat within short order.”
On Saturday, Syrian residents of Tal Rifaat staged another rally to demand a Turkish military operation against the YPG/PKK terrorist group in the city.
