Security forces thwart 5 terrorist attacks in Syria's Jarablus
A Syrian security officer mans a checkpoint on the outskirts of Jarablus, northern Syria, May 30, 2018. (AP File Photo)


Security forces in Syria's Jarablus prevented several terrorist attacks by locating five bombs over the past two days, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported Monday.

Four bombs planted across the center of Jarablus, which was cleared of terrorists through Turkey's Operation Euphrates Shield, were disposed of Saturday before they could harm civilians.

On Sunday, another bomb placed under a civilian vehicle was discovered and destroyed thanks to the quick action of local security forces.

The security forces believe there is a large possibility the PKK terrorist group's Syrian offshoot, the YPG, was involved in the planned attacks.

The YPG, which continues its occupation in the Tal Rifat and Manbij regions, frequently stages terrorist acts targeting the al-Bab, Azaz, Jarablus and Afrin regions.

The YPG has increased the frequency of its attacks, targeting the northwestern town of Jarablus and aiming to displace civilians living in the area.

In its more than 40-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 the deaths of at least 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.

Since 2016, Turkey has launched a trio of successful anti-terror operations across its border into northern Syria to prevent the formation of a terror corridor and to enable the peaceful settlement of residents. Those operations were Euphrates Shield (2016), Olive Branch (2018) and Peace Spring (2019).

The YPG seized control of large swathes of land in the northern parts of the war-torn country with the Bashar Assad regime's blessing when clashes intensified in 2012.

Ankara considers the YPG, which was backed by the U.S.-led anti-Daesh coalition on the pretext of fighting the Daesh terrorist group on the ground, a grave national security threat.