Syria Task Force to provide security in Afrin

By Cankut Tasdan

AFRIN, Syria

Security in Afrin, which was purged of the YPG/PKK terrorist group following Turkey’s Operation Olive Branch, is being provided by a “Syria Task Force” affiliated with the Turkish Police Special Operations Department.

Anadolu Agency reporters on Thursday videotaped special teams that are training local police forces and providing them with operational assistance.

The Syria Task Force is comprised of 12 different teams from the Special Operations Departments from Turkey’s Ankara, Hatay and Gaziantep provinces.

The Syria Task Force is also participating in high-risk operations.

The nascent police organization, which was formed in accordance with the Turkish police, is composed of seven units specialized in counter-terrorism, intelligence, public order, traffic, crime-scene investigations and commandos.

Within this framework, Turkish police are providing training and guidance for the new police organization in Afrin.

It is hoped that the local police force will become operational once it gains experience in the field.

Turkish police will also provide training for police units that will operate inside prisons that will soon be established in the district.

Special forces will also be deployed at the entrances and exits of highways and critical points in the region.

These special forces, with the approval of the local authorities, will personally engage in risky operations.

Within the past three months, several suicide attacks have been thwarted by special teams who have also destroyed more than 100 makeshift explosives left by the YPG/PKK terrorist group.

Special forces are continuing operations against terrorist elements in the region.

Moreover, the Syria Task Force will carry out joint operations with the Turkish Armed Forces and the Turkish intelligence apparatus when necessary.

*Ali Murat Alhas contributed to this report from Ankara