By Izzet Mazi</p> <p>KILIS, Turkey (AA) – More Syrians are expected to return to their homeland following Turkey’s counter-terror operations in Syria, a Turkish official said on Monday.</p> <p>"We think that the number will increase even more in the upcoming period in parallel with the development there [Syria]," Turkey’s Deputy Interior Minister Ismail Catakli told Anadolu Agency.</p> <p>He said living conditions has been getting better and security has increased in the region especially after Turkey's operations of Olive Branch and Euphrates Shield.</p> <p>Turkey has conducted two successful cross-border operations into Syria since 2016, both meant to eradicate the presence of PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists near Turkey’s borders.</p> <p>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 nearly 40,000 people, including women and children. The PYD is its Syrian branch.</p> <p>Catakli added that over 290,000 Syrians have returned home after Turkish military-led operations in Syria.</p> <p>Turkey's immigration authority carries out activities for Syrians, he said.</p> <p>Catakli added: "I think [the number of] returnees will increase more when the situation improves there.”
Syria has been locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011, when the Bashar al-Assad regime cracked down on protesters with unexpected ferocity.
