Marking the first anniversary of the start of Turkey’s Operation Olive Branch, the president on Sunday spoke with Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and a commando team involved in the counter-terrorist operation.
“SYRIA’S INTEGRITY IS UNDER OUR GUARANTEE”
In a video call to the soldiers at their base in Turkey’s southern Hatay province, Erdoğan stressed that Turkey’s fight against terrorism will continue without hesitation in Syria’s Afrin, Jarabulus, and Al-Bab regions. “The fight in Afrin will hold an unforgettable place in our memories,” he said, referring to the site of Operation Olive Branch.
Erdoğan said that the terrorists will not be able to stop Turkish troops or its allies the Free Syrian Army, adding: “We will bring freedom to all our Syrian brothers as soon as possible.” He also stressed: “Syria’s territorial integrity is now under our guarantee, and no division will be allowed here.” About Sunday’s terrorist attack in Afrin, northern Syria, Erdoğan said: “Terrorist attacks in Afrin will never deter us from our fight there.” Erdoğan also gave condolences for the people killed in the attack and wished a full recovery to the injured.
AFRIN ATTACK
Two civilians were killed and eight injured in Sunday’s bomb attack on a bus in Afrin. The bombing, falling on the first anniversary of the start of Operation Olive Branch, is believed to be the work of the terrorist YPG/PKK.
Since 2016, Turkey’s Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch operations in northwestern Syria have liberated the region of YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists, making it possible for Syrians who fled violence there to return home. Since being rooted out from Afrin by Olive Branch, the YPG/PKK has targeted civilians and security forces with terrorist attacks.