PYD/PKK leader defames Afrin operation with fake photo

By Fatma Esma Arslan

ANKARA (AA) - Saleh Moslem, a senior leader of terror group PYD/PKK, on Thursday shared a fake photograph to defame Turkey's ongoing operation in northwestern Syria.

Turkey on Saturday launched Operation Olive Branch to clear PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin.

Moslem shared on his Twitter account a photograph showing injured children with a message: "Turkey massacres in Afrin".

However, it was revealed the photograph was from Sept. 14, 2014 in Eastern Ghouta, then under a crippling siege by the Bashar al-Assad regime.

The photograph showed three children and a baby, who were injured after an air attack by the regime forces in Duma district of Eastern Ghouta.

After Anadolu Agency took a screenshot of the photograph, in order to reveal his black propaganda, Moslem deleted the picture from his Twitter account.

Black propaganda against the Turkish military began soon after Turkey launched the operation, with supporters of the PYD/PKK terrorist organization posting fake and distorted photographs on social media, falsely claiming they were from Afrin.

In the last several days, at least 10 pictures shared by pro-PYD/PKK accounts on social media turned out to be old photographs which had been taken during different incidents in the past.

The pictures were actually captured even before the Operation Olive Branch began.

Some accounts posting such fake news and images were shut down after Anadolu Agency did a story on them.

Nonetheless, the black propaganda of PKK/PYD members and their supporters has continued online against the Turkish military and its operation

The PYD/PKK terror group is occupying one-fourth of Syria and 65 percent of Syria-Turkey border.

According to Turkish General Staff, the operation aims to establish security and stability along Turkish borders and the region as well as to protect the Syrian people from the oppression and cruelty of terrorists.

The operation is being carried out under the framework of Turkey’s rights based on international law, UN Security Council’s decisions, self-defense rights under the UN charter and respect for Syria's territorial integrity, it said.

The military has also said that only terrorist targets are being destroyed and "utmost importance" is being given to not harm any civilians.

Afrin has been a major hideout for the PYD/PKK since July 2012 when the Assad regime in Syria left the city to the terror group without putting up a fight.