The foreign ministry on Sunday blasted U.S. remarks that said that Turkey was hindering the return of civilians to the northwestern Syrian district of Afrin.
“At a press conference on May 3, the spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State influenced by the smear campaigns of the PYD/YPG terror group made an unfortunate statement regarding Operation Olive Branch based on unconfirmed conjectures. Above all, the one preventing the people of Afrin from returning is the PYD/YPG terror group themselves,” a statement posted on the official website of the ministry read.
Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch on Jan. 20 to clear YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorist groups from Afrin in northwestern Syria amid growing threats from the region.
On March 18, Turkish-backed troops liberated Afrin town center, which had been a major hideout for the YPG/PKK since 2012, and is currently conducting de-mining activities in the region.
