24 March 2018•Update: 25 March 2018
By Selen Temizer
AZAZ, Syria
Syrian residents of Tal Rifaat city in northern Aleppo province held a rally on Saturday demanding an Afrin-type Turkish military operation against the YPG/PKK terrorist group in their city.
Protesters, including around 400 fighters of the Free Syrian Army, blocked the road between Azaz city and Sijo town amid calls for Turkey’s Operation Olive Branch to include Tal Rifaat.
The demonstrators later reopened the road after on the call of Turkish military personnel and local security forces.
In early 2016, YPG/PKK terrorists took control of Afrin and surrounding villages with help from Russia and the Bashar al-Assad regime.
Around 25,000 residents have been forced out from their homes and surrounding areas by the terrorist group and sought refuge in Azaz city.
The Turkish army shared a video from the rally on its Twitter account.
“People of Tal Rifaat who want to clear the city from terrorist organizations pour into the streets,” the Turkish army said in the video.
People, some holding the Turkish flags can be seen in one of the squares in the video taken by a drone.
Turkey launched its Operation Olive Branch on Jan. 20 to clear terrorist groups from Afrin in northwestern Syria amid growing threats from the region.
On March 18, Turkish-backed troops liberated the town of Afrin, which had been a major hideout for the PYD/PKK terrorists since 2012.
On Saturday, the Turkish General Staff said Afrin had been taken under “complete” control and efforts continue to help civilians return home in a secure way.
The operation is being carried out under the framework of Turkey's rights based on international law, UN Security Council resolutions, its self-defense rights under the UN charter, and respect for Syria's territorial integrity, according to the Turkish military.
The military also said only terror targets are being destroyed and "utmost care" is being taken to not harm civilians.
