Syrian tribes side with Turkey against terrorism

By Mehmet Fatih Aslan

SANLIURFA, Turkey (AA) - Syrian tribes and clans declared their support for Turkey on Wednesday in its fight against terrorism in Syria.

The Supreme Assembly for Syrian Tribes and Clans made the announcement during the opening ceremony for a new branch office in Turkey’s southeastern province of Sanliurfa bordering Syria.

“Our relatives have been slaughtered at the hands of terrorists. They have recently killed nine people,” Rami al-Saleh, the chairman of the assembly, told reporters.

“We, as Syrian Arab, Turkish and Kurdish tribes and clans, are against all terrorist organizations. We shall not leave the territories they have occupied to them,” he added.

After the ceremony, guests shared an iftar or fast-breaking meal together.

The YPG/PKK terrorist group had captured the eastern part of Syria’s Deir Ezzor province with U.S. support under the pretext of combating Daesh.

As the Daesh terrorist group’s influence in eastern Syria has waned, the YPG/PKK has prevented displaced Syrians from returning to their homes, drawing accusations that the group is trying to change the region’s demographic composition.

In its 30-year terrorist campaign, the PKK -- recognized as a terrorist group by the U.S., EU, and Turkey -- has taken some 40,000 lives, including women and children.

Turkey has promised a counter-terrorist operation against the YPG/PKK in northern Syria, east of the Euphrates River.

Since 2016, Turkey has conducted two successful cross-border operations into Syria -- operations Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch -- with a view to eradicating terrorist groups operating near Turkey’s borders.

*Writing by Busra Nur Bilgic