Syria: YPG/PKK terror tunnel found in east of Euphrates

By Levent Tok, Burak Karacaoglu, Omer Koparan, Mohamad Misto, Adham Kako

RAS AL-AYN, Syria (AA) - The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) found a tunnel on Thursday, dug by YPG/PKK terrorists to use during air strikes in Turkey's ongoing operations, in the liberated Kishto village of Ras al-Ayn.

According to security sources, the tunnel was located between Kishto village and the Turkish border, with a concrete entrance built four meters (13 feet) under the surface.

With tactics previously used by the Daesh terrorist organization, YPG terrorists dug the tunnels against operations, as well as for infiltration and sudden attacks.

Many other tunnels were revealed in Afrin by the TSK after villages were cleared from the terrorists with Operation Olive Branch.

The villages of al-Yabisah and Tal Fandar were the first ones cleared of terrorists as part of the Operation Peace Spring -- launched Wednesday east of the Euphrates River in northern Syria to secure its borders by eliminating terrorist elements and to ensure the safe return of Syrian refugees and Syria’s territorial integrity.

Later, the villages of Musheirifa, Dadat, Bir Ashiq and Hamidiyah in Tal Abyad and Kishto in Ras al-Ayn were also cleared of terrorists.

The villages of Lower Kishto west of Ras al-Ayn, Barzan, Al Jadedah and Gisas were also rid of terrorists.

Syrian National Army forces are taking security precautions in villages located west of Tal Abyad.

Turkey has said the terrorist group PKK and its extension the YPG/PYD constitute the gravest threat to Syria’s future, jeopardizing the country’s territorial integrity and unitary structure.

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 deaths of some 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The terrorist YPG/PYD is its Syrian branch.

*Writing by Havva Kara Aydin