Turkish political parties back Operation Peace Spring

ANKARA

Turkish political parties threw their support on Wednesday behind the newly-launched Operation Peace Spring in areas controlled by the YPG/PKK terrorist group east of the Euphrates River in northern Syria. 

Turkey will both establish a safe zone in northern Syria as well as peace, tranquility and stability in the region with Operation Peace Spring which is strictly in line with international law and legitimacy standards, said Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahceli Wednesday in a written statement. 

Bahceli underlined that Turkey launched the operation to neutralize treacherous and separatist organizations that seriously threaten Turkey’s survival and national existence. 

"May Allah bless and bestow triumph upon our children," said main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu on Twitter. Kilicdaroglu expressed hope that Turkish soldiers successfully complete Operation Peace Spring without injury.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, the leader of the Grand Unity Party (BBP) wished victory for the Turkish soldiers in the operation. 

"The aim of this operation is to ensure our border security, and eliminate the terror threat coming from Syria," said Mustafa Destici. 

The operation also aims to contribute to regional peace, he said. 

"Our proposed solution in the region is for Daesh militants to be sent to whichever country they are a citizen of. They are currently in the hands of the U.S.," he said. 

"I hope our soldiers return home safely and peace prevails in our region as soon as possible,” said opposition Saadet (Felicity) Party leader Temel Karamollaoglu on Twitter. 

Karamollaoglu also wished success to the Turkish army, and insight and tenacity to Turkey.

Also, another opposition party, Good (IYI) Party, leader underlined that Turkey’s military struggle in Syria must be boosted by diplomacy. 

“May Allah grant the Turkish troop success as soon as possible,” Meral Aksener said. 

In a statement, Free Cause Party (HUDAPAR) said the operation is "not a Turkish-Kurdish war".

"PKK/YPG have never fought for Kurds," the statement added.  

Operation Peace Spring

Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring east of the Euphrates River in northern Syria to secure its borders by eliminating terrorist elements to ensure the safe return of Syrian refugees and Syria’s territorial integrity.

Ankara has said the terrorist group PKK and its extension the YPG/PYD constitute the biggest threat to Syria’s future, jeopardizing the country’s territorial integrity and unitary structure. 

Turkey has also stressed that supporting terrorists under the pretext of fighting Daesh is unacceptable.

Turkey has a 911-kilometer (566-mile) border with Syria and it has long decried the threat from terrorists east of the Euphrates and the formation of a “terrorist corridor” there.

Turkey plans to resettle 2 million Syrians in a 30-km-wide (19-mi) safe zone to be set up in Syria, stretching from the Euphrates River to the Iraqi border, including Manbij. 

However, the presence of terror groups such as the PKK, PYD, and YPG risk its formation.

Turkey has rid an area of 4,000 square km (1,544 square miles) in Syria of terrorist groups in two separate cross-border operations. Since 2016, Turkey has conducted two major military operations in northwestern Syria -- Operation Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch -- to purge the region of the terrorist groups Daesh and the YPG, which is the Syrian branch of the terrorist group PKK.

The two operations were in line with the country’s right to self-defense borne out of international law, UN Security Council resolutions, especially no. 1624 (2005), 2170 (2014) and 2178 (2014), and under the right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter, while being respectful of Syria’s territorial integrity.

During Operation Euphrates Shield, Turkish forces neutralized 3,060 Daesh terrorists. Turkey has suffered greatly from Daesh attacks inside the country. More than 300 people have been killed in attacks claimed by Daesh in Turkey, where the terrorist group has targeted civilians in suicide bombings and armed attacks in recent years.

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