ANKARA

The Syrian National Army (SNA) has launched an operation to counter the PKK/YPG terrorist group’s plan to establish a terror corridor between Tel Rifaat and northeastern Syria, according to security sources.

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

As opposition forces began their operation towards Aleppo, Syrian regime forces quickly lost control of significant territory. This prompted the Syrian regime to seek support from the PKK/YPG terrorist organization against the opposition, paving the way for the terrorist group to advance.

The Syrian regime has begun ceding lands under its control to PKK/YPG forces east of the Euphrates River. As a result, large numbers of PKK/YPG terrorists and heavy weapons were transported from east of the Euphrates River to Aleppo.

The PKK/YPG terrorist group saw the surrender of territory by the Syrian regime as an opportunity and attempted to establish a terrorist corridor between Tel Rifaat and northeastern Syria. However, the plan was thwarted by the SNA.

Noticing the maneuvers of the terrorist organization amid the advance of opposition groups towards Aleppo, the SNA launched “Operation Dawn of Freedom” and quickly entered the field.

The SNA disrupted PKK/YPG efforts to establish a terrorist corridor by cutting the road between Raqqa and Aleppo, thereby blocking the link between Tel Rifaat and northeast Syria.

Location in Tel Rifaat

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

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

From Tel Rifaat, the YPG/PKK terrorist group launched attacks against settlements in the Operation Euphrates Shield and Operation Olive Branch areas, as well as against positions held by security forces Turkish forces providing security and opposition fighters.

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

With the advance of anti-regime armed groups in central Aleppo, regime forces withdrew from Tel Rifaat.

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