By Esber Ayaydin
TAL ABYAD, Syria (AA) - Daily life in the Turkish-controlled Tal Abyad district in northern Syria has begun returning to normal after the area was recently cleared of terrorists with the assistance of the Turkish military.
Liberated from the YPG/PKK terrorists by the joint operation of the Turkish Armed Forces and the Syrian National Army (SNA), residents who once suffered under the terrorists' oppression are trying to start their new lives.
On Oct. 9, Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate terrorists from northern Syria east of the Euphrates River in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.
YPG/PKK terrorists stole and partially destroyed equipment from Tal Abyad's hospital while fleeing the Turkish military and SNA.
The Turkish Armed Forces established a mobile clinic to serve and treat people in the region.
- Military doctors treat people
Hassan al-Ahmad brought his three-month-old baby to the clinic to be examined by Turkish doctors.
"My baby has been sick for a while. Military doctors examined my baby and gave medicine for treatment," he said.
The Turkish military also established a bakery to provide bread to the town's needy. The bakery operates eight hours a day and produces over 3,000 loaves of bread.
To ensure the area's security, the SNA installed control points on all roads connecting to Tal Abyad, where they continually keep soldiers stationed.
The Turkish military have also been deployed across the region to protect locals.
Muhammad Dervish, an SNA soldier, said he saw the suffering of the people when he entered the town.
He said: "The PKK forcibly recruited civilians to the terrorist organization and persecuted women."
"We brought freedom and we do not compel anyone to do anything. That’s why people are happy when they see us," he added.
Saliha Aleynur, a local woman, said the PKK kidnapped youngsters to use as child soldiers.
"We were living under the oppression of the PKK. Terrorists forced our children to fight against Turkey. When we tried to resist, terrorists burned our houses, imprisoned and tortured us.
"When the Turkish military came here, Turkish soldiers gave us freedom, food, medicine, everything we needed. Turkish doctors treat us. Turkey supplies everything," she said.
Tal Abyad’s city center was cleared of YPG/PKK terrorists on Oct.13 during Turkey's Operation Peace Spring.
On Oct. 22, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin held a meeting in Russia's Black Sea resort town of Sochi.
Ankara and Moscow reached a deal under which YPG/PKK terrorists will pull back 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) south of Turkey’s border with northern Syria within 150 hours and security forces from Turkey and Russia will conduct joint patrols there.
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 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK.
* Writing by Fahri Aksut