Politics
Türkiye presses Greece to hand over FETÖ members, crime bosses
Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi has urged Greece to extradite members of the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) and accelerate the return of wanted criminal gang leaders, calling for stronger cross-border security cooperation to combat terrorism and organized crime.
Speaking during an official visit to Athens on Friday, Çiftçi met with Greek Minister for Citizen Protection Michalis Chrysochoidis to discuss cooperation against terrorist organizations, emerging criminal networks and other forms of transnational crime.
“We expect our friends to recognize FETÖ’s true face, support our fight against the organization and extradite its members to our country,” Çiftçi said, according to a statement released after the meeting.
The talks focused on strengthening cooperation between the two countries’ security and law enforcement agencies, including the exchange of information, the prevention of cross-border crime and measures against criminal networks operating across national borders.
Çiftçi said he hoped the meeting would produce tangible results in improving bilateral security cooperation, emphasizing that criminal organizations increasingly coordinate their activities across multiple countries and exploit differences between national legal systems.
He also called on Greek authorities to prevent criminal gang leaders held in Greek prisons from continuing to communicate with their networks and coordinate criminal activities while in detention.
“Some leaders of criminal organizations who have been arrested and are being held in Greece can unfortunately continue to communicate with their organizations and carry out operations despite being in custody,” he said. “It is extremely important to prevent this. We particularly expect their extradition processes to be accelerated.”
Faster extradition demand
Extradition procedures featured prominently in Çiftçi’s discussions, with the minister raising concerns about cases in which the transfer of suspects to Türkiye has been halted shortly before completion.
He said some extradition procedures had been suspended or canceled after travel arrangements and tickets for the individuals concerned had already been finalized. In certain cases, he said, Greek authorities cited ongoing judicial proceedings in Greece, while others involved last-minute applications to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
According to Çiftçi, such interruptions have become more frequent in recent months, including after Turkish officials assigned to extradition duties had already traveled to Greece or to land border crossings to receive the individuals.
“These incidents negatively affect the predictability of extradition processes,” he said.
The minister warned that repeated delays could create an incentive for wanted individuals seeking to evade extradition to travel to or remain in Greece.
To address the issue, he proposed making use of existing provisions under the bilateral readmission agreement and applying deportation procedures where the legal conditions are met.
“We can also make use of the provisions of the existing readmission agreement to prevent this situation,” Çiftçi said. “The deportation mechanism can be applied to individuals for whom the necessary conditions are met.”
The comments reflect Ankara’s push to make extradition and law enforcement cooperation more predictable as authorities seek to pursue suspects whose alleged activities extend beyond Türkiye’s borders.
The two countries’ cooperation involves a range of issues, from organized criminal networks and terrorism to human trafficking, drug smuggling and irregular migration. Effective coordination, Turkish officials argue, is particularly important when suspects, criminal proceeds and communications networks span several jurisdictions.
Action against FETÖ
Çiftçi also pressed Greece to take action against FETÖ, the group responsible for the deadly 2016 coup attempt in Türkiye.
The minister said that the organization’s activities, including the misuse of refugee status, posed a threat not only to Türkiye but also to public order and the interests of Greece and other countries where the group operates.
He called for greater recognition of the organization’s activities and urged Greek authorities to cooperate more closely with Türkiye in securing the return of its members.
The issue remains politically sensitive in bilateral relations. Following the failed coup attempt in 2016, some coup plotters fled to Greece and sought asylum, prompting a dispute between Ankara and Athens over their return. Greek judicial authorities rejected Türkiye’s extradition requests, citing concerns including the defendants’ right to a fair trial. The case became one of the most prominent legal disputes between the neighboring countries following the coup attempt.
Çiftçi said Türkiye’s security forces continued to fight organizations including the PKK, Daesh, the Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C) and FETÖ, adding that the direct terrorist threat facing the country had been substantially reduced through those efforts.
He also urged Greek authorities to ensure that FETÖ did not exploit the more positive atmosphere created by the “terror-free Türkiye” initiative.
Çiftçi said the group’s activities presented a broader security concern and referred to legally disguised operations reflected in Europol and intelligence reports.
He called for cooperation to prevent the organization from using political or legal circumstances in other countries to maintain its activities.
Organized crime battle
Beyond terrorism and extradition, the meeting addressed efforts to combat organized criminal groups, including networks with members or leaders operating in both countries.
Çiftçi said recent contacts between Turkish and Greek law enforcement agencies, together with improved communication channels and real-time information sharing, had contributed to an increase in operations targeting Turkish-origin organized criminal groups in Greece.
He said the cooperation had resulted in numerous suspects being brought to justice and thanked Greek authorities for their efforts.
“We are pleased with this situation and thank Greece for its efforts,” he said.
The minister’s remarks highlighted the importance of operational cooperation between neighboring countries as criminal networks increasingly operate across borders rather than within a single jurisdiction.
Authorities must be able to exchange information, identify suspects and coordinate investigations even when members of the same organization are located in different countries, Çiftçi said.
The Greek side also raised concerns about criminal groups operating in Greece whose members are of Turkish origin. According to the Greek Ministry of Citizen Protection, Chrysochoidis called for Turkish authorities to seek Interpol Red Notices for wanted suspects when domestic arrest warrants have been issued, facilitating their arrest in Greece and transfer to Turkish authorities. The Greek minister also called for stronger intelligence sharing and closer operational coordination.
Çiftçi provided figures on Türkiye’s operations against organized crime, saying security forces had conducted 1,741 operations since the beginning of the year.
Those operations had dismantled 625 criminal organizations, including 22 with international reach, while 8,170 members of organized criminal groups had been arrested and remanded in custody, he said.
The minister also said authorities had arrested 35,819 people accused of drug trafficking over the same period as part of an intensified campaign against narcotics networks.
He said operations against organized criminal groups would continue with the same determination.
The figures, presented by the minister, cover a broad range of enforcement activities and illustrate the scale of the government’s campaign against criminal networks. They also formed part of Ankara’s argument for stronger cooperation with neighboring countries, particularly where suspects can cross borders or maintain links with organizations operating abroad.
Drug trafficking and other forms of organized crime often involve networks that coordinate the movement of illicit goods, money and personnel across multiple jurisdictions. Authorities therefore increasingly rely on information sharing and coordinated investigations to identify leadership structures and disrupt operations.
Çiftçi said international cooperation was essential to prevent criminal groups from exploiting gaps between national law enforcement systems.
Çiftçi also drew attention to what Turkish authorities describe as a new generation of organized criminal groups, saying their growing reliance on social media and digital communication platforms had changed how they recruit members, coordinate activities and promote their operations.
He said these networks use online platforms to organize, spread propaganda and attract new recruits, while also using digital channels to maintain communication across national borders.
Turkish authorities monitor social media activity as part of efforts to track the actions of these organizations and follow the proceeds of their crimes, he said.
The minister argued that the transnational nature of such groups makes cooperation between governments increasingly important, as investigations conducted in a single country may not be sufficient to identify or disrupt an entire network.
“No country can achieve results in the fight against crime on its own,” Çiftçi said. “Compared with conventional criminal organizations of the past, international cooperation has become even more important in combating new-generation criminal groups.”
He called on Greece to give particular attention to Turkish requests concerning the arrest and extradition of leaders and members of emerging organized criminal networks that Ankara considers a priority security threat.
The growing use of digital platforms presents law enforcement agencies with additional challenges, particularly when suspects communicate through services accessible from multiple countries or when financial transactions and other criminal activities leave evidence across different jurisdictions.
Çiftçi’s appeal for closer cooperation was therefore not limited to the physical transfer of suspects. It also encompassed the exchange of operational intelligence and the coordination needed to track networks whose members can continue to communicate and organize activities across borders.
Migration management
The meeting also took place against the backdrop of broader cooperation between Türkiye and Greece, particularly on irregular migration and border security.
Çiftçi said relations between the two countries had developed in recent years under the leadership of their respective leaders, allowing cooperation to continue on several important issues despite longstanding differences.
He pointed to the trilateral mechanism involving Türkiye, Greece and Bulgaria as an example of cooperation in combating irregular migration, saying progress had been made through the arrangement.
The three countries have a shared interest in addressing migration routes through southeastern Europe and preventing criminal networks from exploiting people seeking to cross borders. Cooperation can involve information exchange, border management and action against smugglers and trafficking networks.
Çiftçi said Türkiye had developed a comprehensive migration management model under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, which he described as an example for other countries.
According to the minister, the approach seeks to balance public security with human rights, international law and humanitarian principles.
He said Türkiye supported regular migration through appropriate mechanisms while seeking to address irregular migration by tackling its underlying causes rather than focusing solely on border enforcement.
Çiftçi described the country’s approach as a comprehensive, five-pillar strategy designed to begin and end at the source of migration movements.
The minister’s remarks placed security cooperation within a wider framework in which irregular migration, human smuggling and organized crime are treated as interconnected challenges requiring coordination among neighboring countries.
A new defense cooperation roadmap between Türkiye and France has drawn attention in Greece, with a Greek media outlet warning that closer military ties between Ankara and Paris could strengthen Türkiye’s air defense capabilities and reshape the regional balance of power.
Athens-based Pentapostagma Thursday examined the potential implications of the agreement, highlighting possible cooperation on advanced SAMP/T air defense systems and Meteor long-range air-to-air missiles.
In an article headlined “The back door has opened,” the outlet suggested that renewed defense dialogue between the two NATO allies could pave the way for broader industrial partnerships and technology transfers.
The report focused particularly on Türkiye’s efforts to establish a multilayered air defense network under its domestically developed Steel Dome project.
According to Pentapostagma, Ankara could seek advanced European systems capable of countering increasingly sophisticated missile threats while maintaining interoperability with NATO defense infrastructure.
The outlet identified the Franco-Italian SAMP/T NG system as a potential area of cooperation, emphasizing that any agreement could extend beyond conventional military procurement.
“The real question is not whether Türkiye will purchase an air defense system from Europe, but under what conditions,” the report stressed.
The assessment follows an announcement by Türkiye’s Defense Ministry outlining a roadmap to establish more structured and sustainable defense cooperation with France.
Under the framework, officials from both countries are expected to hold regular meetings alternating between Ankara and Paris to discuss joint defense projects, air defense systems and intelligence sharing.
The first meeting under the roadmap is planned for the final quarter of 2026.
It argued that Turkish industrial participation, technology transfers and integration into the Steel Dome architecture could prove more strategically significant than the number of systems acquired.
Steel Dome is Türkiye’s integrated layered air defense architecture, bringing together domestically developed radar, missile, electronic warfare and command systems to protect airspace against threats at multiple altitudes and ranges.
Meteor missiles draw attention
The report also highlighted the potential acquisition of European Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles, warning that their integration into the Turkish Air Forces Command could significantly enhance Ankara’s aerial combat capabilities.
Pentapostagma described such a development as a potentially major setback for Greece’s defense posture, particularly amid longstanding strategic competition between the neighboring NATO members.
The outlet also pointed to possible cooperation involving French defense companies Thales, MBDA and Eurosam in radar technology, missile systems and command-and-control infrastructure.
It cited a strategic partnership reportedly signed between French aerospace company Safran and Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar in May, describing the arrangement as a joint development initiative rather than a conventional buyer-seller relationship.
Acknowledging Türkiye’s expanding defense capabilities, Pentapostagma argued that Greece could no longer overlook Ankara’s military strength.
“Türkiye does not need to pretend to be strong because it already is,” the outlet said, adding that expectations of a substantially weaker Türkiye were unrealistic.
A Turkish court ordered Friday the continued detention of two brothers accused of carrying out attacks on Turkish military bases and convoys in Syria as their retrial resumed in the southern province of Adana.
Ahmet Baykara and his older brother, Yusuf Baykara, appeared via video link from prison before the Adana 2nd High Criminal Court. Several complainants and lawyers attended the hearing in person.
A Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) member, identified by the initials T.T., testified that he was injured in a vehicle bombing while serving in Syria in 2018.
“We were preparing to return to Türkiye when a vehicle passed us. Five or six minutes later, a vehicle loaded with explosives detonated,” he said, adding that a fellow soldier was killed.
Both defendants denied involvement in terrorism, claiming they had traveled to Syria to conduct humanitarian activities.
“I am not a terrorist. I did not carry out any attack,” Ahmet Baykara told the court, requesting his release and acquittal.
The prosecutor requested that both suspects remain in custody pending further proceedings. The court upheld their detention and adjourned the hearing.
Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) captured Ahmet Baykara in an African country on Oct. 15, 2024, following intelligence linking him to attacks on Turkish military positions in Syria’s Idlib province.
His brother was subsequently detained in Adana.
The two were convicted in October 2025 and sentenced to life imprisonment for undermining state unity and territorial integrity, along with 11 years and eight months each for attempted murder of a public official.
The brothers remain in custody as proceedings continue.
Turkish authorities have been carrying out extensive counterterrorism operations at home and abroad to capture terrorists.
Türkiye on Friday strongly condemned Houthi attacks on two major airports in Saudi Arabia, warning that strikes targeting civilians and critical infrastructure risk further escalating regional tensions and reaffirming its solidarity with Riyadh.
In a statement, the Foreign Ministry denounced the attacks targeting Abha International Airport in southern Saudi Arabia and King Khalid International Airport in the capital, Riyadh.
The ministry extended condolences to the families of those killed and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
Ankara called for an immediate end to attacks targeting civilians and infrastructure, warning that continued violence could further destabilize the region.
“These attacks targeting civilians and infrastructure and leading to a further escalation of tensions in the region must cease immediately,” the ministry said.
Reaffirming Türkiye’s support for Saudi Arabia, the ministry stressed the importance of resolving regional disputes through peaceful means.
“We once again emphasize our full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and reiterate our call for existing disputes to be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy,” it said.
Separately, Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran condemned the strikes, describing them as unacceptable acts that threaten regional peace and stability.
Duran said the attacks, which caused civilian deaths and injuries, risked fueling further tensions across the region.
“These attacks, which have resulted in civilian deaths and injuries, are unacceptable acts that threaten peace and stability in the region and escalate tensions,” he said.
He emphasized that Türkiye, under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s leadership, remains committed to preventing new conflicts and promoting diplomatic solutions to regional disputes.
The communications director also reiterated Ankara’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia and offered condolences to the victims’ families while wishing the injured a swift recovery.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan warned that powerful technology leaders are seeking to shape young people’s lives and values, saying Türkiye must raise a generation capable of embracing technological progress while preserving its national and spiritual identity.
Speaking Saturday at the 75th anniversary gathering of the Ilim Yayma Cemiyeti in Istanbul, Erdoğan described young people as the primary target of what he called “techno-oligarchs,” whom he accused of seeking to direct the future according to their own interests and worldview.
He said the influence of artificial intelligence and rapidly advancing technologies was transforming society, making it increasingly important to protect young people from ideologies that encourage racism, hedonism and disregard for moral boundaries.
“The Teknofest generation will be our greatest assurance against the domineering mentality of techno-oligarchs who commodify people, nature, the sky and even space,” Erdoğan said, referring to Türkiye’s technology and aerospace festival, which promotes domestic innovation and attracts young people interested in science and engineering.
He also identified the Ilim Yayma generation as central to this effort, emphasizing the need to develop technology in ways that put people first and preserve moral responsibility.
“Our common goal is to raise a generation that uses and develops technology with a human-centered approach,” he said, calling for young people who read more, think critically and produce innovative work without losing their conscience, humanity or connection to national and spiritual values.
Erdoğan pointed to recent troubling incidents in schools as evidence of the threats posed by what he described as harmful influences, arguing that young people must be protected from ideologies that promote racial hatred and excessive self-indulgence.
He urged students and educators to remain committed to their responsibilities, saying the country must prepare young people to navigate an uncertain future shaped by technological change and global cultural pressures.
Ilim Yayma’s 75-year history
Erdoğan also praised the Ilim Yayma Cemiyeti, a Turkish educational and civil society organization founded in 1951, for its contribution to the country’s education system and the development of generations of students.
He described the organization’s history as closely intertwined with Türkiye’s own, saying its founding principles reflected the country’s long-standing ambition to educate young people who are knowledgeable, ethical and committed to serving society.
“Although it was founded in 1951, the history of Ilim Yayma is also the history of Türkiye,” Erdoğan said. “Its founding philosophy is the philosophy of Türkiye’s existence, and its ultimate goal is Türkiye’s centuries-old aspiration.”
He paid tribute to the organization’s founders, including its first president, Seniyüddin Başak, who helped protect Turkish foundation properties during the Lausanne Conference; Gen. Ömer Cemal Karabekir, who supported the Turkish National Movement during the War of Independence; and retired Col. Vehbi Bilimer, a veteran of the Gallipoli campaign, the Battle of Kut and the Turkish War of Independence.
Erdoğan also recalled Hasan Hikmet Demirbağ, a writer for the Sebilürreşad magazine and associate of national poet Mehmet Akif Ersoy, among the figures who helped establish the organization.
He said the founders shared a commitment to ensuring that Turkish children would not be deprived of education, knowledge or moral guidance, particularly during periods of political and social hardship.
Their common ambition, Erdoğan said, was to entrust the country’s future to a confident, well-educated and responsible generation.
He described Ilim Yayma as a symbol of Türkiye’s struggle for independence and its future, adding that the organization’s work was closely linked to the country’s broader struggles over education and democracy.
Organization helped expand imam hatip schools
Erdoğan highlighted Ilim Yayma’s role in the reopening and expansion of imam hatip schools, which combine religious instruction with general education.
He said the organization helped establish Türkiye’s first imam hatip school on Oct. 17, 1951, just six days after its founding, and later contributed to the construction of more than 100 such high schools across the country.
The expansion helped extend educational opportunities beyond Istanbul, with new institutions opening across Anatolia, Erdoğan said.
The organization also established student dormitories in several cities and provided scholarships and accommodation for students traveling from other parts of the country to study in Istanbul. These services enabled tens of thousands of young people to continue their education in safer and more supportive environments, he added.
Erdoğan said the organization had expanded its work despite obstacles, pressure and difficulties over the decades, becoming an important presence in Türkiye’s educational and civil society landscape.
He credited the founders’ determination and faith with laying the foundations for an institution that continues to support students and educators today.
192 branches, 153 dormitories and 122 education centers
Erdoğan said Ilim Yayma Cemiyeti now operates 192 branches, 153 dormitories and 122 education centers, providing services from basic education through higher education and academic development.
He also praised the contributions of the Ilim Yayma Foundation, Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, volunteers, donors and alumni associations, saying their combined work had helped the wider Ilim Yayma community serve the country and society.
“What 68 dedicated individuals set in motion 75 years ago now touches the lives of millions through schools, dormitories, scholarships, education centers, academic support and international initiatives,” he said.
Erdoğan described the organization’s growth as a source of pride, saying its founders had planted a modest seed that had grown into a mighty plane tree under God’s providence.
He said generations of students had benefited from the institution’s work, with many going on to serve their country and humanity.
The president urged the organization to pass its legacy on to future generations with renewed determination, expressing confidence that its work would continue to expand.
He also called on young people to draw inspiration from history while focusing on the challenges ahead, stressing that educating people required patience, sustained effort and a long-term vision.
Erdoğan calls for investment in future generations
Erdoğan said Ilim Yayma’s achievements over the past 75 years were important, but its future contribution would depend on how effectively it responded to changing social and technological needs.
He raised questions about how the organization could reach more students, help young people discover their talents, safeguard their spiritual development and strengthen national identity amid global cultural influences.
He also stressed the need for Türkiye to produce scientific, technological, cultural and artistic works rooted in its own traditions while remaining relevant in a rapidly changing world.
The president said artificial intelligence was already bringing fundamental changes to everyday life, making it necessary for educational institutions to adapt their methods and priorities.
He warned that powerful technology executives, whom he called “techno-oligarchs,” wanted to influence not only present-day society but also the future according to their own interests.
According to Erdoğan, the challenge was to ensure that technological progress served humanity rather than treating people and the natural world as commodities.
He said the Teknofest generation represented the kind of young people Türkiye needed to meet that challenge, combining scientific ambition with ethical responsibility and a strong sense of identity.
“Do not become complacent or lose heart,” Erdoğan told the audience. “If you have faith, you are the ones who will prevail.”
He pledged that the organization would continue the work begun by its founders, saying its members would uphold their legacy without seeking worldly rewards such as status, fame or wealth.
Erdoğan concluded by expressing confidence in the country’s young people and urging them to carry forward the organization’s educational mission with determination.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday condemned the international community’s failure to respond effectively to Israel’s actions in Gaza, warning that global legal institutions and enforcement mechanisms were failing to uphold justice and international law.
Speaking at the International Justice Summit in Istanbul, Erdoğan accused Israel of turning Gaza into the world’s largest concentration camp, criticizing the lack of accountability for civilian deaths and widespread destruction.
“For three years, people in Gaza have been brutally killed before the eyes of the entire world,” Erdoğan underlined, adding that more than 74,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, had been killed.
He said schools, universities, hospitals and places of worship had been destroyed, while thousands of children had suffered life-changing injuries.
Gaza on Wednesday marked three years since Israel launched a genocidal war on the Palestinian territory, which continues to reel from unlivable conditions, daily killings by the Israeli military and being cut off from the rest of the world.
Erdoğan also accused Israel of repeatedly violating a cease-fire established last year, with Türkiye’s support.
Gaza authorities and international nongovernment organizations have raised alarms that Israel has continued its atrocities in the coastal enclave, killing 1,454 Palestinians and injuring 5,090 others since the cease-fire took effect on Oct. 10, 2025.
Criticism of global justice system
Erdoğan said international judicial and sanctions mechanisms had failed to respond adequately to the situation in Gaza, describing the crisis as a test of the international community’s commitment to justice.
“This is a test of humanity for the entire world. It is a test of sincerity for all of us,” he said.
He highlighted Türkiye’s application to intervene in the genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, its suspension of trade with Israel and legal measures targeting those accused of attacking the Global Sumud Flotilla.
“Türkiye may face difficulties if necessary, but it will never turn its back on those suffering injustice.”
The president also criticized the broader international system, arguing that international agreements, court rulings and fundamental legal principles were increasingly being disregarded.
Even Tuesday, at least three Palestinians were killed and several others injured by Israeli army fire.
The latest killings pushed the total Palestinian death toll in Israel’s genocide past 74,000, most of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Erdoğan reiterated his longstanding call for United Nations reform, declaring that “the world is bigger than five,” a reference to the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council.
He also pointed to the prolonged Russia-Ukraine war, disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing conflicts in Lebanon, Yemen, Somalia and Sudan as examples of mounting global instability.
He warned that inequalities between countries were widening in education, technology, food security and access to economic opportunities.
No safe haven for criminals
Turning to international law enforcement, Erdoğan stressed that technological developments had enabled criminal organizations to operate across borders through cryptocurrencies, electronic payment systems and social media.
He called for stronger judicial cooperation to prevent suspects from evading prosecution by fleeing abroad.
“Those who believe they can escape justice by leaving the country should not feel safe wherever they hide,” Erdoğan said.
He announced that Türkiye had secured the extradition of 294 individuals during the first nine months of 2026 and brought another 736 people into the country through various international search mechanisms.
“Turkish justice will sooner or later do what is necessary,” Erdoğan said, reaffirming Ankara’s commitment to international legal cooperation and accountability.
Türkiye’s Defense Ministry on Friday commemorated the seventh anniversary of Operation Peace Spring, paying tribute to soldiers who participated in the cross-border counterterrorism operation in northern Syria.
In a statement shared on social media, the ministry honored Turkish troops who took part in the operation, launched to secure Türkiye’s borders and support regional security.
The ministry also paid tribute to soldiers killed during the operation and expressed gratitude to wounded veterans for their service and sacrifices.
Ankara launched Operation Peace Spring in northern Syria to eliminate terrorists from northern Syria east of the Euphrates River, secure Türkiye’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.
In an effort to restore normal life in the region, Turkish security forces have cleared 600 settlements of terrorists belonging to the PKK’s Syrian wing, the YPG.
Within four days, Turkish forces cleared the town of Ras al-Ain and a day later, Tal Abyad was liberated from PKK/YPG terrorists. Overall, the operation secured more than 4,000 square kilometers.
After the operation, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and the Syrian National Army focused on maintaining security and enabling displaced civilians to return home. Since the establishment of local councils, which also provide job opportunities, the region has seen significant infrastructure improvements, including the resolution of water and power shortages.
On Aug. 25, the U.S.-backed YPG terrorist group announced that its so-called autonomous administration and all its military and civilian structures have been dissolved following the agreement reached between the Syrian administration and the YPG on Jan. 29 that provided for a cease-fire and the group’s gradual integration into state institutions.
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