Turkey-Syria border gates to open after cross-border offensive

Two border gates on the Turkish-Syrian border are expected to open soon, a Turkish official said Tuesday.

Abdullah Erin, the governor of southeastern Şanlıurfa province, said the customs gates in the cities of Akçakale and Ceylanpınar will open once peace is restored in the region.

"We are swiftly working [...] the construction on the Turkish side has completed," he said.

"The maintenance and repairs are taking place on the Syrian side," he added.

Staff who will guard the gates are also being trained.

"The border gates will be opened to both humanitarian aid and commercial transactions in a short time," he said.

He told Anadolu Agency that Turkey's anti terror operation in northern Syria against YPG/PKK terrorists has improved the law and order situation.

Operation Peace Spring, launched on Oct. 9, aims to eliminate the terrorist YPG/PKK from northern Syria in order to secure Turkey's borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria's territorial integrity.

Following two separate deals with Washington and Moscow, the operation has been paused to allow the withdrawal of YPG/PKK terrorists from a planned northern Syria safe zone.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union -- has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is the PKK's Syrian offshoot.