Ankara has revealed its intention to remain in the northeastern Syrian region of Afrin where Turkish forces and allied Free Syrian Army factions have been carrying out military operation Olive Branch since January 20.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said that normal life has been restored in Afrin, but Turkey’s presence there will remain for some time to “continue with the development of the region.”
During a televised interview Monday, he stated that more than 140,000 Afrin residents have returned to their homes.
He added that Turkey has started to gradually assign some duties to the local council that was established by Afrin residents. The council includes Kurdish, Turkmen and Arab figures.
Meanwhile, the area encompassed by the Euphrates Shield operation, which was waged by Turkish forces and Syrian opposition factions, has witnessed a return of major main services during the past months.
The operation that covered Syria’s northern and northeastern Aleppo countryside took place between August 2016 and March 2017.
Services were restored through Turkey’s constant support for local councils. Ankara has been providing their staff with monthly wages and necessary equipment to carry out their duties.
A total of ten main local councils are operating in the area, which stretches from Jarablus to Aazaz and al-Bab. Smaller councils, which receive similar backing, are also affiliated to them.
Turkey deals with the basic local councils in the region as local governments that manage the region’s affairs.
Police and security forces are seen as an executive arm in several organizational matters and in applying the laws imposed by councils on the residents.
Turkey provides monthly salaries for these councils, TRY530 (around USD130) for employees and TRY800 (USD180) for members of honor who were selected by local accord.
