Family broken by PYD/PKK, dreams of reunion

By Rauf Maltas

SANLIURFA, Turkey (AA) – A Syrian family is waiting for their hometown to be cleared from terrorists to be able to reunite with their two sons recruited by the PYD/PKK terrorist organization.

Like so many Kurdish families, the Ali family was oppressed by PYD/PKK terrorists into leaving Syria's Tel Abyad area, a place they had called home for so many years.

PYD/PKK terrorists recruited to their ranks the two sons of the Ali family by force, burned their house as well as 100-acre wheat field, and forced them to leave.

Losing hope in the prospect of continuing life in their country, the Ali family immigrated to Turkey with their six children.

Trying to survive through aid from charitable individuals, the family is living in the Sanliurfa province with the hope of reuniting with their children one day, while eagerly waiting for their homeland to be cleared from all terrorists.

Celal Ali, the father of the family, told Anadolu Agency that they fully supported Operation Olive Branch launched by Turkey against PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists in Syria's Afrin region.

Ali said that it was the terrorist PYD/PKK now doing the greatest harm to Syria.

"The PYD/PKK, which is effectively encouraged by the U.S. and the Assad regime in Syria, forced the real residents of towns to emigrate in order to change the demographic structure of the region," Ali said.

He stressed that Syrian revolutionaries and Turkey were fighting against terrorist groups together.

“The popular uprising’s culmination in success would benefit both Syria and Turkey. We hope that the Turkish Armed Forces and the Free Syrian Army will be successful against this group. We believe that victory is close at hand."

Turkey on Saturday launched Operation Olive Branch to remove PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin.

According to the Turkish General Staff, the operation aims to establish security and stability along Turkish borders and the region as well as to protect the Syrian people from the oppression and cruelty of terrorists.

The operation is being carried out under the framework of Turkey’s rights based on international law, UN Security Council’s decisions, 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 importance" is being given to not harm 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 putting up a fight.