4,000 return to Syria from Turkey in last 2 weeks

HATAY

Thousands of Syrians left Turkey over the last two weeks for hometowns liberated from militants in northwestern Syria, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.

Taking refuge in Turkey due to civil war in Syria, nearly 4,000 Syrians from different parts of Turkey flocked to the Cilvegözü border gate in southern Hatay province.

Syrians headed to hometown after legal procedures at the border.

Separately, large number of trucks loaded with humanitarian aid and commercial materials were piled at the border to be sent to Syria.

Turkey’s Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch operations in northwestern Syria cleared the region of YPG and ISIL militants, making return of Syrian civilians to homeland possible.

The Euphrates Shield was launched in 2016, whereas the Olive Branch operation earlier this year on Jan. 20.

Turkey sees the  YPG as a terror group for its ties to the PKK which is listed as a terror group by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union.