Syrians in Turkey continue voluntary return to homeland

By Sena Guler

ANKARA (AA) - Over 590 Syrians living in Turkey have voluntarily returned to their homeland after the areas were liberated from terrorists by Turkey’s anti-terror operations, the country’s National Defense Ministry on Thursday.

“593 Syrian brethren who fled PKK/YPG terror group's oppression by seeking refuge in Jarablus [Jarabulus] (Operation Euphrates Shield area) have begun voluntarily returning to their Tal Abyad homes in a safe manner,” the ministry said on Twitter.

“Our Syrian brethren continue returning to their homes in the Operation Peace Spring area,” it added.

Operation Euphrates Shield and its successors, Operation Olive Branch in 2018 and Operation Peace Spring -- launched on Oct. 9 -- all aim to eliminate terrorist elements near Turkey’s borders, including Daesh/ISIS and the YPG/PKK.

Ankara wants to clear northern Syria east of the Euphrates River of the terrorist PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the YPG/PKK.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and EU -- has been responsible for deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.