PYD/PKK plans to use civilian human shields in Afrin
Terrorist organization YPG/ PKK members plan to use local people as "human shield" during a possible Turkish Army's operation in Afrin, according to a security source.
- World
- Anadolu Agency
- Published Date: 12:00 | 17 January 2018
- Modified Date: 05:21 | 17 January 2018
The PYD/ PKK terrorist organization in Afrin, Syria poses a serious threat to the security of Turkey's border cities, as well as areas liberated by the recent Operation Euphrates Shield and the Idlib de-escalation zone.
Afrin, situated in northwestern Syria, is one of the biggest districts in Aleppo, Syria.
Terrorist organization YPG/ PKK members plan to use local people as "human shield" during a possible Turkish Army's operation in Afrin, according to a security source.
Also, some Daesh terrorist have arrived in the city and were involved with YPG/PKK.
The terror group has started to force some youth in the city to take up arms and dig trenches in their homes. They also collect money from the local people.
Afrin has emerged as a hideout for the PKK/PYD since 2011, when anti-regime movements started in Syria, followed by the current civil war.
In time, the terrorist group's presence in Afrin gained power with support from the Assad regime, along with U.S. backing east of the Euphrates River. The terrorist group, growing rapidly with U.S. military support, has seized 65 percent of the area of the Turkish-Syrian border.
The military support, which the U.S. has sent to northern Haseki city of Syria since April 2016, has also been sent to Afrin by the terror organization.
Civilians who live in Afrin began to leave the city and head to Aleppo but terrorists do not allow them to leave the city.
While Turkish military's deployment continues in the region, refugees who fled from Afrin to Turkey are closely following developments in the region.
Academic and security specialist Murat Aslan of Hasan Kalyoncu University told Anadolu Agency the PKK control in Afrin means there is a threat in Turkey's borders and was ready to attack at any moment. He said Turkey could not allow such a threat.
On Sunday, Ryan Dillon, spokesperson for the U.S.-led coalition against Daesh, announced plans to establish a 30,000-strong border security force in Syria with the SDF/PKK -- a U.S.-backed group drawn up largely of PYD/PKK terrorist elements.
The PYD/PKK is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK, which has been designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU.