Siblings unite in Afrin seven years after PKK/YPG tears family apart

Syrian citizen Feride Ahmed was reunited with her sister seven years later in Afrin, once the town was liberated of terror elements as part of Turkey’s ongoing Operation Olive Branch. Her sister Nejah Ahmed traveled to Afrin from Azaz with her husband in 2005. The region was then occupied by the PYD/PKK in July 2012, when the Assad regime in Syria left the city to the terror group without putting up a fight.

Since that day, Feride and Nejah had not seen each other. They dreamt of the day they would be reunited and Afrin would be liberated.

On March 18, Turkish-backed troops liberated the town center of Afrin, which had been a major hideout for the YPG/PKK since 2012.

The two women met in Afrin’s neighboring village of Basuta. Feride fainted in her sister’s arms.

“Thankfully I have reunited with my sister. Oh what we’ve been through! The terrorists banned entering and leaving. Many people were separated, like us. It’s as if I’m in a dream,” said Feride.

“I’ve been here [in Afrin] for 13 years. We haven’t seen each other for seven years. The terrorists drew borders and didn’t let anyone leave. I’m so elated. God willing, I will see my other siblings too. Thank you to everyone who enabled us to see each other. Entering and leaving wasn’t allowed,” said Nejah.

The siblings missed their nieces and nephews as much as they missed each other. Feride had not seen Nejah’s oldest child Mahmud since he was a baby, and did not even see the rest of her children as newborns.

“I didn’t get the chance to know my nieces or nephews. I’m seeing them for the first time. I feel like my heart is going to stop beating. I would like to thank Turkish soldiers,” said Feride as she hugged her sister’s children.

Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch on Jan. 20 to clear terrorist groups from Afrin, northwestern Syria amid growing threats from the region.