Syria: Turkey rebuilding roads in northern Syria

By Burak Bir

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey is busy rebuilding roads in regions of northeastern Syria liberated by its anti-terror operation launched last month, said Turkish officials on Saturday.

On Twitter, Turkey's National Defense Ministry posted a video showing roads being rebuilt in Tal Abyad, an area cleared of terrorists by Operation Peace Spring.

"The road problem, just like many others, is being solved for our Syrian brothers in Tal Abyad," the ministry said.

In the video, a Tal Abyad resident said they had waited for five years for Turkey to come to the region and thanked Turkey for saving them from YPG/PKK terrorists.

"We thank the Turkish people and the Turkish government,” said the local. “They saved us from torture. We waited five years for Turkey to come. [President] Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave the approval and Turkey came. We were very pleased. Our dreams came true."

He added that if Turkey gave them electricity, water, and bread and made their roads, they would be happy.

Turkey on Oct. 9 launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate YPG/PKK terrorists from northern Syria east of the Euphrates River in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.

Ankara wants YPG/PKK terrorists to withdraw from the region so a safe zone can be created to pave the way for the safe return of some two million refugees.

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 the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG is the PKK's Syrian offshoot.