Turkish forces working to ensure security in areas cleared of YPG/PKK terrorism in northern Syria
YPG/PKK terrorists have torched civilian homes in Tal Abyad before fleeing the district amid ongoing Turkey-led anti-terror operation in northern Syria.
Adjacent to the Turkish border, the district center of Tal Abyad, located in northern Syria, was cleared of YPG/PKK terrorists on Sunday as part of Turkey's Operation Peace Spring which aims to eliminate the PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the PYD/YPG, east of the Euphrates River.
The operation was launched on Oct. 9 in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.
Some of the civilians who had temporarily fled their homes for their safety found their houses burned after returning to Tal Abyad.
Anadolu Agency correspondents in Tal Abyad recorded the images of the homes torched by YPG/PKK. Photos show that a large number of houses have become uninhabitable with everything indoors turned to ashes.
A mother from Tal Abyad, whose house was set on fire by terrorists, told Anadolu Agency: "I am an old woman. I have three daughters. We have nobody [to take care of us] but Allah."
"We had left our home and came back to find it like this. May Allah help us. We have nothing to sleep on. The clothes are burned. They burned everything," she said.
Her daughter also said: "The PKK burnt out our home. We left the district and when we came back we found our home burnt. We have nothing to sit on in our house. We borrowed stuff from our neighbors."
Meanwhile, Turkish troops carrying out the operation with the support of the Syrian National Army (SNA) continue their sweep and clear activities to ensure security in Ras Al-Ayn and its surroundings as soon as possible.
Turkish forces detected tunnels where YPG/PKK terrorists took shelter during the clashes in Ras Al-Ayn. The troops are clearing tunnels of explosives as well as searching residential areas to liberate them from terror.
The network tunnels of YPG/PKK were previously dug in various points accessed through the houses.
Similar operations are ongoing successfully to clear landmines in the region.
On Monday, Ras al-Ayn and Tal Abyad were announced "under control" by Turkey's Defense Minister Hulusi Akar.
In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the European Union -- has been responsible for deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.
