Turkey slams US, says YPG/PYD prevents civilians from returning to Afrin

The foreign ministry on Sunday blasted U.S. remarks that said that Turkey was hindering the return of civilians to the northwestern Syrian district of Afrin.

“At a press conference on May 3, the spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State influenced by the smear campaigns of the PYD/YPG terror group made an unfortunate statement regarding Operation Olive Branch based on unconfirmed conjectures. Above all, the one preventing the people of Afrin from returning is the PYD/YPG terror group themselves,” a statement posted on the official website of the ministry read.

Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch on Jan. 20 to clear YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorist groups from Afrin in northwestern Syria amid growing threats from the region.

On March 18, Turkish-backed troops liberated Afrin town center, which had been a major hideout for the YPG/PKK since 2012, and is currently conducting de-mining activities in the region.