'Turkey to provide services in areas liberated from PKK terrorists'

Areas liberated from PKK terrorists will have services provided by Turkey in northern Syria, the country's Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun said Monday.

"Operation Olive Branch and Euphrates Shield have proven Turkey deliver a model of governance and security for all Syrians," he said in a tweet.

U.S. troops on Monday began to retreat from various points in northern Syria where an imminent Turkish operation is expected against terror groups in the area.

In a statement, the White House said Turkey would soon carry out its "long-planned operation" into northern Syria.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan confirmed the beginning of the U.S. withdrawal, which started off in the Tal Abyad and Rasulayn areas.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. YPG is the Syrian branch of the terrorist organization PKK.