Northern Syrians to greet 3rd terrorist-free Ramadan, thanks to Turkiye

By Esref Musa

TEL ABYAD, Syria (AA) - Civilians in Syria's northern districts of Tel Abyad and Ras al-Ayn will again be able to observe Ramadan in peace and security thanks to Turkiye's anti-terror efforts.

Turkiye, with the support of the Syrian National Army (SNA), established regional security by keeping the terrorist organization YPG/PKK out of Tel Abyad and Ras al-Ayn.

Raed Dehish, who took refuge in Turkiye when the YPG/PKK occupied Tel Abyad, told Anadolu Agency that the country's 2019 anti-terror Operation Peace Spring allowed him to return to his district.

Tal Abyad is preparing for another Ramadan without fear of YPG/PKK terrorists, he said. "The atmosphere of security has been fully ensured. People live comfortably day and night in the district."

Another resident, Latif Bathavi, hopes the Tel Abyad Local Council acts on rising food prices before the holy Muslim month of fasting begins.

Heysem Shelesh, from Ras al-Ayn, echoed these concerns, stating that the high prices were hurting both merchants and consumers in the district.

"The people's purchasing power is poor. Their financial resources are insufficient for spending," he said, adding that the month's beauty would be overshadowed by high food prices.

During Ramadan, charities usually offer hot meals on mobile kitchens, a practice that Shelesh says he hopes will continue even after Ramadan.

Locals' purchasing power has suffered due to drought over the past two years, even as energy prices rose and inflation made it harder to get hold of essential commodities.

Since 2016, Ankara has launched a trio of successful anti-terror operations across its border in northern Syria to prevent the formation of a terror corridor and enable the peaceful settlement of residents: Euphrates Shield (2016), Olive Branch (2018), and Peace Spring (2019).

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Turkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the US, and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG is the PKK's Syrian offshoot.​​​​​​​

* Writing by Merve Berker