After the Turkish Armed Forces and allied groups captured Afrin during Operation Olive Branch, displaced residents of Tel Rifaat rallied in Azaz to demand the expulsion of the SDF from the town
(meta data) TITLE: Residents of Syria's Tel Rifaat demand Turkey to free their town like Afrin (meta data) AUTHOR: TRT World Watch Live # Residents of Syria's Tel Rifaat demand Turkey to free their town like Afrin 24 Mar 2018 ### Hundreds of Syrian protesters, carrying Turkish and Free Syrian Army flags, block a road between Azaz city and Sijo town in Aleppo and call Ankara to include Tel Rifaat in Operation Olive Branch. Protesters carrying Free Syrian Army and Turkish flags block a road between Azaz city and Sijo town in Aleppo province of Syria on March 24, 2018. (AA) Syrian residents of Tel Rifaat city in northern Aleppo province held a rally on Saturday demanding an Afrin-type Turkish military operation against the PKK-affiliated terrorist group in their town. Protesters blocked the road between Azaz city and Sijo town and wanted Turkey to include Tel Rifaat in Operation Olive Branch. The demonstrators later reopened the road on the call of Turkish military personnel and local security forces. In early 2016, the YPG terrorists took control of Afrin and surrounding villages with help from Russia and the Assad regime. Around 25,000 residents have been forced out from their homes and surrounding areas by the terrorist group and sought refuge in Azaz city. The Turkish army shared a video from the rally on its Twitter account. "People of Tel Rifaat who want their town to be cleared from terrorist organisations pour into the streets," the Turkish army said in the tweet. People, some holding the Turkish flags can be seen in one of the squares in the video taken by a drone. Terör örgütlerinden kentin temizlenmesini isteyen Tel Rıfat halkı sokaklara döküldü. pic.twitter.com/0APh00nf0c — TSK (@TSKGnkur) March 24, 2018 In an another tweet, the Turkish army shared pictures of the demonstration. Tel Rıfat halkının terör örgütlerinden kurtulmak için sokaklarda yaptığı gösterilerden görüntüler. pic.twitter.com/gFmqKtD942 — TSK (@TSKGnkur) March 24, 2018 Aid supplies for Afrin On Saturday, the Turkish General Staff said Afrin had been taken under "complete" control and efforts continue to help civilians return home in a secure way. The Turkish Red Crescent also distributed hot meals to 15,000 people in the region on Saturday. Talking to TRT World in Afrin, Turkish Red Crescent head Kerem Kinik said: "We have been providing 15,000 cooked meals twice daily. It means 30,000 cooked meals we are providing daily." TRT World's Melinda Nucifora visited the town and has this report. Turkey launched its Operation Olive Branch on January 20 to clear terrorist groups from Afrin in northwestern Syria amid growing threats from the region. On March 18, Turkish-backed troops liberated the town of Afrin, which had been a major hideout for the YPG terrorists since 2012. The YPG is the Syrian branch of the PKK, which is responsible for over 40,000 deaths, and has carried out a violent campaign against Turkey for more than 30 years. The PKK has been listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the US and the European Union. The operation is being carried out under the framework of Turkey's rights based on international law, UN Security Council resolutions, its self-defence rights under the UN charter, and respect for Syria's territorial integrity, according to the Turkish military. The military also said only terror targets are being destroyed and "utmost care" is being taken to not harm civilians. Source: AA Related News #### President Erdogan says Turkey can enter Afrin centre 'at any moment' #### Turkish military encircles Afrin town centre #### One year since Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch in Syria #### Syria's Afrin residents welcome Turkish forces with open arms Category News #### EU funding to stop Mediterranean migration slammed by NGO #### Who was Tunisia's late President Beji Caid Essebsi? #### Sudan protesters and army rulers ink power-sharing deal #### Three killed as car bomb targets funeral in Libya's Benghazi - sources Olive Branch Turkish military northwestern Syria President Erdogan says Turkey can enter Afrin centre 'at any moment' Turkish military encircles Afrin town centre One year since Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch in Syria Syria's Afrin residents welcome Turkish forces with open arms Turkey determined to eliminate terror groups along its borders - Erdogan Turkey's minorities welcome greater religious freedom Car blast, air strikes hit Syria's Idlib city - monitor Hezbollah leader vows retaliation after Israeli attack YPG/PKK begins withdrawing from northern Syria - CENTCOM Homemade bomb kills teen in occupied West Bank Show people, places and other topics in this story Read articles related to this story See what's popular on TRT World This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn more
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Tell Rifaat
History.:Syrian Civil War.

 By November 2013, the town was under control of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). In January 2014, ISIL forces withdrew from the northern Aleppo area, and rebel fighters, mainly members of the Islamic Front, defeated ISIL militants in the town. The Conquest Brigade of the Islamic Front came into control of the town. 
 By January 2015, Tell Rifaat was under the control of the Conquest Brigade of the Islamic Front. 
 On 15 February 2016, the town was captured by the Syrian Democratic Forces, led by the Army of Revolutionaries. Russian airstrikes, which preceded the SDF assault, forced the majority of the population to escape. Since the SDF capture of Tell Rifaat, the town became the headquarters of the Army of Revolutionaries.