Syrian National Army continues to advance against PKK/YPG terror group in Operation Dawn of Freedom

By Omer Koparan and Tugba Altun

TEL RIFAT, Syria (AA) - The Syrian National Army (SNA) continues its advance in the Tel Rifat district as part of Operation Dawn of Freedom, launched to prevent the PKK/YPG terror corridor between Tel Rifat and Manbij.

As part of the operation, the SNA has captured Tel Rifat's villages of Shagoreet, Tebnah, Al-Malikiyah, Kafr Kalbin, Kafr Naya, Miskan, Al-Ghuz, Tatmuras, Tal Anab, Mazraat Hamad, Zouyan, Maaranaz, and Zouyan Hill.

Clashes between SNA forces and terrorists, who have entrenched themselves in Tel Rifat, continue on the northwest, northeast, east, and south fronts of the region.

- Operation Dawn of Freedom

The SNA launched on Sunday an operation to counter the terror group PKK/YPG's plan to establish a terror corridor between Tel Rifat and northeastern Syria, according to security sources.

Tensions have resurfaced in northern Syria after anti-regime armed groups recently captured second-biggest city of the country, Aleppo.

As opposition forces began their operation toward Aleppo, Syrian regime forces lost control of significant territories in a short time. This prompted the Syrian regime to seek support from the PKK/YPG terrorist organization against the opposition, paving the way for the terror group to gain ground.

The Syrian regime began to hand over the lands under its control to the PKK/YPG terrorists located east of the Euphrates. Consequently, a large number of terrorists and heavy weaponry were transported from east of the Euphrates to Aleppo.

The PKK/YPG terror group considered the Syrian regime's surrender of territories as an opportunity and attempted to establish a terror corridor between Tel Rifat and northeastern Syria. However, the plan was thwarted by the SNA.

Noticing the terrorist organization's maneuvers amid the opposition groups' advance toward Aleppo, SNA launched the operation and quickly entered the field.

The SNA also disrupted the terrorist organization's efforts to establish a terror corridor by cutting off the route between Raqqa and Aleppo, blocking the link between Tel Rifat and northeastern Syria.

- Situation in Tel Rifat

YPG/PKK terrorists, with air support from Russia, seized control of Tel Rifat and some surrounding settlements in February 2016.

The terrorist organization displaced nearly 250,000 civilians from Tel Rifat and its surroundings, forcing them to take refuge in areas near the Turkish border.

From Tel Rifat, the YPG/PKK terror group launched attacks on settlements within the Operation Euphrates Shield and Operation Olive Branch regions, as well as on positions held by Turkish security forces ensuring safety and opposition fighters.

The PKK/YPG terrorist organization, which occupied the district of Tel Rifat, had collaborated with the Assad regime and its supporters to maintain control of the area.

With the advance of anti-regime armed groups into the center of Aleppo, regime forces withdrew from Tel Rifat.