Turkish doctors save Syrian patient's life

By Izzet Mazi

KILIS, Turkey (AA) - A Syrian man with a cardiac condition unable to get the treatment he needed in Syria was brought to a Turkish hospital to receive a life-saving operation.

Originally from Tal Rifaat, Syria, three years ago Ahmed al-Ahmed had to move to Azaz due to persecution of YPG/PKK terrorists in Tal Rifaat, the patient told reporters on Tuesday.

Suffering from atherosclerosis, al-Ahmed sought out treatment in Azaz -- an area liberated by Turkey from the threat of terrorism -- but the treatment was inadequate.

So the hospital, founded with Turkish support, transported al-Ahmed to Kilis State Hospital, in southern Turkey near the Syrian border.

There al-Ahmed had a bypass operation and was able to make a recovery.

He told reporters that after the operation he is now fine and that he prays for Turkish doctors.

Operation Euphrates Shield, which began on August 2016 and ended in March 2017, eliminated the terrorist threat along Turkey’s border in the northern Syrian regions of Jarabulus, Al-Rai, Al-Bab, and Azaz with the use of the Free Syrian Army, backed by Turkish artillery and air cover.