AL-BAB, Syria

In Syria’s northern town of Al-Bab, which was purged of terror elements by Turkey’s 2016 Operation Euphrates Shield, local people are supporting the Turkish economy by converting their foreign-currency holdings into Turkish lira.

On Tuesday, residents of the town, located in the north of Syria’s northwestern Aleppo province, organized a demonstration of support for Turkey outside a local forex office.

Demonstrators waved Turkish flags and held placards reading, “Supporting the lira is wajib [i.e., a moral obligation]”, “You put down the [2016] coup; you will win the economic war being waged against you”, and, “The merchants of northern Aleppo are with you”, referring Turkish people.

Some of them accompanied by their children, they chanted, “Turkey and Syria are one” and “Allahu Akbar [God is Great]!”.

Sharif Abo, who came to the event -- waving a Turkish flag -- to buy Turkish lira, told Anadolu Agency: “I’m converting my foreign currency to lira to show support for the Turkish economy.”

Asserting that support for Turkey’s currency would continue, he added: “As Syrians, we dedicate our property, lives and spirits to Turkey.”

Ten-year-old demonstrator Esra Osman, for her part, told reporters: “We children don’t have any foreign money to help with, but we can pray. May Allah protect the Turkish people and their leaders!”

Civilians living in Operation Euphrates Shield’s area-of-operations first launched the “Support Turkey and the Turkish Lira” movement in May.