Turkey to rebuild liberated villages in Syria’s Afrin

By Omer Olcay

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey has begun a process to rebuild villages in Afrin which were liberated during Operation Olive Branch.

Ankara’s Kecioren Municipality on Thursday sent a team of 22 people, including psycho-social support experts to Marin and Scarab villages which have been cleared of YPG/PKK terrorists.

"My biggest desire is for normalcy to return to the region," Mustafa Ak, mayor of Kecioren Municipality, said.

Terrorism affected children the most, he said, adding that a park and community centre was planned for the region.

“It [the rebuilding process] will contribute to accelerating the rehabilitation process of the region," he added.

Since the launch of the operation on Jan. 20, Turkish military and the Free Syrian Army liberated 116 locations including one center of a district, 88 villages, 20 strategic mountains and hills and one YPG/PKK base.

The operation was launched to remove PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin.

According to the Turkish General Staff, the operation aims to establish security and stability along Turkey's borders and the region as well as protect Syrians from terrorist cruelty and oppression.

The operation is being carried out under the framework of Turkey’s rights based on international law, UN Security Council resolutions, its 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 care" is being taken to avoid harming 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 a fight.