‘Purging Manbij of PKK terrorists will pave the way for Raqqa’s liberation’

The Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) is in preparation to carry on an operation against Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorists east of the Euphrates River in northern Syria.

Newly-elected Raqqa Local Council President Fayez al-Ghada spoke to Yeni Şafak daily in his first exclusive interview since he took office and divulged the details of the U.S and the PKK alliance in the region, as well as the public’s support of Turkey’s upcoming military operation.

“If Manbij is purged of the PKK, it will pave the way for the liberation of Raqqa,” al-Ghada stressed.

Turkey will launch an operation in the east of the Euphrates in a few days to liberate the region from the PKK terrorist organization, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced on Wednesday.

Sharing his opinions on the U.S.’s attitude toward civilians in Raqqa, he said, “850,000 civilians fled the region owing to the Raqqa operation launched under the pretext of fighting Daesh. None of those civilians returned home because the U.S. forces and the PKK have not permitted them to.”

“Actually, PKK terrorists want to flee Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor because they don’t feel safe in the region, but the U.S convinced them to stay,” al-Ghada continued.

The U.S.-led coalition's bombardment of Syria's Raqqa in 2017 had resulted in numerous civilian casualties.

Stressing the public support for Turkey’s looming operation, al-Ghada said, “The U.S does not allow civilians to return home, nor does it allow for the reconstruction of the schools, mosques, houses, bakeries and hospitals. If the Turkish army launches its military operation east of the Euphrates River, it will garner public support on a much larger scale than expected,” he said.

“The TAF and FSA will eventually enter Raqqa,” he concluded.

Turkey has repeatedly objected to U.S. support for the terrorist PKK/PYD as a "reliable ally" in Syria, which has included supplying arms and equipment.

A mission east of the Euphrates, which Turkey’s leadership has been suggesting for months, would follow two successful cross-border Turkish operations into Syria since 2016 – Operation Euphrates Shield and Operation Olive Branch – both meant to eradicate the presence of YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists near Turkey’s borders.

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 death of some 40,000 people, including women and children. The YPG is its Syrian branch.