YPG/PKK use fake photos to smear Turkey's op in Syria

ANKARA

Social media accounts supporting YPG/PKK terrorists on Friday shared fake images or photos taken in past years to spread disinformation about Turkey's anti-terror operation east of the Euphrates River.

YPG/PKK supporters have stepped up social media smear campaigns against Turkey's counter-terror operation in northern Syria by posting fake photographs to blame Turkey.

The terrorist organization shared on social media a map with an inserted an image of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on it, as if it was posted by the Turkish defense minister's account to manipulate Operation Peace Spring.

As part of disinformation, terrorist supporters cropped a photo of the Turkish President in front of a map as if it was a Turkish map covering lands in northern Syria and Iraq.

The actual photo, where Erdogan was standing in front of a map, was taken in 2018 during Turkey's Operation Olive Branch.

The same manipulators circulated a screen shot of the distorted map image on social media accounts.

The image was also used by social media accounts of anti-Turkish Armenian lobby in the U.S.

It was previously revealed by Anadolu Agency that supporters of the organization used war photographs from around the world for manipulating the operations of Euphrates Shield and the Olive Branch as well as in the Operation Peace Spring.

Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring on Oct. 9 to eliminate terrorists from northern Syria in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.

Ankara wants to clear northern Syria east of the Euphrates River of the terrorist PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the YPG/PKK.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union -- has been responsible for deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.

* Writing by Dilara Hamit