By Anadolu staff
TEL RIFAAT, Syria (AA) - The Syrian National Army (SNA) is continuing its advance in the Tel Rifaat district as part of its Operation Dawn of Freedom, aimed at blocking the PKK/YPG's terrorist corridor between Tel Rifaat and Manbij.
Clashes between SNA forces and terrorists entrenched in Tel Rifaat continue.
As part of the operation, the SNA has successfully captured several key locations, including the villages of Shevergaelriz, Tennep, Malikiyye, Keffin, Kefernaya, Miskan, El-Cuz, Tatmiras, Tel Ineb, Mezeret Hamad, Zoyan, Maranaz, Algamiyye, Burcelgas, Minnig, Telaccaz, Harabsems, Kutale, Ayn Dakne, Deyr Cemal, and Zukkebir, as well as Kuveyris and Minnig airports, and Zuyan Hill.
After liberating the district center of Tel Rifaat from PKK/YPG control, the SNA forces also cleared the villages of Seale, Radar Seale, and Neyrebiyye, which had been used by the terrorist organization as bases for launching attacks on secure areas.
With the liberation of these villages, a total of 24 villages, in addition to the district center, have been freed from PKK/YPG control.
Meanwhile, opposition forces have retaken the district of Sefire, located southeast of Aleppo city center, from the Assad regime forces.
- Operation Dawn of Freedom
The operation began after opposition armed groups launched an offensive against Aleppo on Nov. 27.
In response, Syrian regime forces allied with the PKK/YPG and ceded certain areas to the terrorist group.
The PKK/YPG, reinforced by additional forces from eastern Syria, began fortifying these areas.
To counter the PKK/YPG move to establish a terrorist corridor between Tel Rifaat and Manbij, the Syrian National Army initiated the Operation Dawn of Freedom.
Following the siege of Tel Rifaat district, the district center was liberated from terrorist control.
- PKK/YPG's occupation of Tel Rifaat
PKK/YPG terrorists, with air support from Russia, seized Tel Rifaat and surrounding areas in February 2016.
The terrorist group displaced around 250,000 civilians from Tel Rifaat and its surroundings, forcing them to seek refuge near the Turkish border.
From these areas, the PKK/YPG launched attacks against Turkish security forces and opposition fighters stationed in areas liberated in the Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch operations.
The PKK/YPG, with the support of Bashar al-Assad's regime and its allies, attempted to maintain control over the district.
After armed opposition groups entered Aleppo city center on Nov. 29, regime forces withdrew from Tel Rifaat.
*Writing by Gizem Nisa Cebi in Istanbul