YPG/PKK terrorists leave dozens homeless in N. Syria

By Mehmet Fatih Aslan and Mustafa Guclu

TAL ABYAD, Syria (AA) - Residents of an area in northern Syria cleared of terrorists by Turkey's Operation Peace Spring are now facing the prospect of homelessness, after fleeing YPG/PKK terrorists set fire to their homes.

Some of the civilians who had temporarily fled their homes in Tal Abyad district for their safety found their houses burned after returning.

Victims of the YPG/PKK terror are rebuilding their homes to start a new life in the district.

“Terrorists torched the houses after they heard about Turkish forces coming to the district,” said Zeynep al-Humeydi, one of the residents of Tal Abyad.

“At least nine or 10 houses were burned by the terrorists and there is nothing left, not even the walls,” said Muhammed Musa Huseyin, another resident.

He is unemployed and has spent 12 days to rebuild his house where he lives with his family of eight.

He stressed that while fleeing the district, terrorists planted many bombs in their homes and Turkish soldiers cleared the region from the bombs.

Another resident of Tal Abyad, Ahmet Ali el Isa and his two children have been left homeless. For now, they are staying with a neighbor.

“They burned our house for no fault of ours. My children, grandchildren and I are staying with our neighbors right now. We have nothing left,” he said.

Launched on Oct. 9, the Operation Peace Spring aims to eliminate terrorist YPG/PKK elements 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.

On Oct. 22, Ankara and Moscow reached a deal under which YPG/PKK terrorists will pull back 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) south of Turkey’s border with Syria within 150 hours, and security forces from Turkey and Russia will mount joint patrols there.

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.

*Writing by Havva Kara Aydin