Syrian National Army captures tunnel used by terrorists in Tel Rifaat

By Mehmet Burak Karacaoglu, Esref Musa, Ahmet Karaahmet, Omer Koparan and Tugba Altun

TEL RIFAAT (AA) - The Syrian National Army Sunday captured a long tunnel in the village of Zuyan, which was liberated from terrorists in the south of Tel Rifaat, during Operation Dawn of Freedom launched to prevent the PKK/YPG's Tel Rifaat-Manbij terror corridor.

According to information obtained from local sources, the tunnel in Zuyan is part of a tunnel network that surrounds the district center of Tel Rifaat and connects with some settlements, some of which were mapped by Anadolu in 2022.

The tunnels surrounding the town center of Tel Rifaat, located 18 kilometers (11 miles) from the Turkish border, are at least 30-kilometer (18-mile) long. The tunnels are 1.5 meters wide and roughly 2 meters high.

After the liberation of Zuyan village from terrorists, fierce clashes with the PKK/YPG are underway.

- Operation Dawn of Freedom

The SNA launched Operation Dawn of Freedom in response to the PKK/YPG's plans to establish a terrorist corridor between Tel Rifaat and northeastern Syria.

Following the start of operations by anti-regime armed groups against Aleppo, Syrian regime forces lost control of large areas in a short period.

In response, they sought support from the PKK/YPG, allowing the terrorist group to gain territory.

The Syrian regime began handing over control of areas to the east of the Euphrates to PKK/YPG forces.

As a result, numerous PKK/YPG terrorists from the region moved to the Aleppo area, and heavy weapons belonging to the group were deployed there.

In response to PKK/YPG's plan to establish a terrorist corridor between Tel Rifaat and northeastern Syria, the SNA swiftly entered the field and launched Operation Dawn of Freedom.

During the operation, SNA forces seized the Kuweires Military Airbase, which contains military aircraft and air defense systems, severing the PKK/YPG's control over the Tel Rifaat–Mare corridor.

The SNA also captured the strategically important Minnigh Airport, located just 13 kilometers (8 miles) from Türkiye.

*Writing by Efe Ozkan