Operation Peace Spring into northeastern Syria bands Turkish people together by getting nationwide support

All Turkish political parties [except Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP)] and senior political figures have expressed their full support to the Operation Peace Spring launched by Turkish troops and the ally Syrian National Army [SNA] to clear Turkey's southern border of YPG and Daesh terrorists.
Turkish lawmakers applauded the start of Syria offensive during a session at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on Wednesday.

Ottoman-era military marching songs played and schools were closed until Monday in one Turkish border district as the country went to war.

Loudspeakers set up in Akçakale district, some 6 kilometres from the strategic northern Syrian town of Tal Abyad, belted out nationalistic music, according to footage on private broadcaster Haberturk.

The operation is largely aimed at routing YPG militants who keep hold of many regions in the war-torn Syria.

Turkey's Syria offensive dubbed "Operation Peace Spring" became a worldwide trend on Twitter in a short time after Turkey-led forces launched military operation.

"May god be with us," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan tweeted. "I applaud every single brave Mehmetçik who takes part in this operation," he said, using a term of endearment for Turkish soldiers.

Turkey will both establish a safe zone in northern Syria as well as peace, tranquility and stability in the region with Operation Peace Spring which is strictly in line with international law and legitimacy standards, said MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli Wednesday in a written statement.

Bahçeli underlined that Turkey launched the operation to neutralize treacherous and separatist organizations that seriously threaten Turkey's survival and national existence.

Mosques across Turkey will hold special dawn prayers on Thursday for the military, state broadcaster TRT said.

"We pray for the #OperationPeaceSpring to be completed successfully as soon as possible," said Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP).

"We are always with our armed forces and our Mehmetçik, our prayers are with our soldiers," tweeted Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu, also from the CHP.

Others joining the chorus of support included Temel Karamollaoğlu, leader of the small right-wing opposition Felicity Party, and Meral Akşener, chairwoman of the opposition centre-right Iyi (Good) party.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, the leader of the Grand Unity Party (BBP) wished victory for the Turkish soldiers in the operation.

"The aim of this operation is to ensure our border security, and eliminate the terror threat coming from Syria," said Mustafa Destici.

The operation also aims to contribute to regional peace, he said.

"Our proposed solution in the region is for Daesh militants to be sent to whichever country they are a citizen of. They are currently in the hands of the U.S.," he said.

TRT called it the "largest offensive in the republic's history," claiming it spans an area "nearly 400 kilometres long and 35 kilometres deep."

Nationalistic rhetoric and euphoria was already high this week in the government, as the planned offensive loomed.

"I will be a martyr if I die, a veteran if I survive," the Defence Ministry tweeted Tuesday.

Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring east of the Euphrates River in northern Syria to secure its borders by eliminating terrorist elements to ensure the safe return of Syrian refugees and Syria's territorial integrity.

Turkey has said the terrorist group PKK and its extension the YPG/PYD constitute the biggest threat to Syria's future, jeopardizing the country's territorial integrity and unitary structure.

Turkey has also stressed that supporting terrorists under the pretext of fighting Daesh is unacceptable.

Turkey has a 911-kilometer (566-mile) border with Syria and it has long decried the threat from terrorists east of the Euphrates and the formation of a "terrorist corridor" there.

Turkey plans to resettle 2 million Syrians in a 30-km-wide (19-mi) safe zone to be set up in Syria, stretching from the Euphrates River to the Iraqi border, including Manbij. However, the presence of terror groups such as the PKK, PYD, and YPG risk its formation.

Turkey has rid an area of 4,000 square km (1,544 square miles) in Syria of terrorist groups in two separate cross-border operations. Since 2016, Turkey has conducted two major military operations in northwestern Syria -- Operation Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch -- to purge the region of the terrorist groups Daesh and the YPG, which is the Syrian branch of the terrorist group PKK.

The two operations were in line with the country's right to self-defense borne out of international law, UN Security Council resolutions, especially no. 1624 (2005), 2170 (2014) and 2178 (2014), and under the right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter, while being respectful of Syria's territorial integrity.

During Operation Euphrates Shield, Turkish forces neutralized 3,060 Daesh terrorists. Turkey has suffered greatly from Daesh attacks inside the country. More than 300 people have been killed in attacks claimed by Daesh in Turkey, where the terrorist group has targeted civilians in suicide bombings and armed attacks in recent years.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.