We totally reject the unfounded allegations in Amnesty International’s report on Operation Peace Spring.

We consider these baseless allegations as part of an ongoing smear campaign against our efforts in countering the terror threat stemming from Syria and aiming at Turkey’s national security.

Operation Peace Spring is a counter-terrorism operation against the PYD/YPG terrorist organization which threatens both Turkey’s national security and Syria’s territorial integrity by pursuing a separatist agenda.

During the planning and execution phases of the operation, only PYD/YPG terrorist elements and their hideouts, shelters, emplacements, weapons, vehicles and equipment are targeted. All necessary measures are taken in order to avoid harm to civilians and civilian infrastructure.

We would like to take this opportunity to remind that the Syria National Army which is supporting the operation has already established an Investigation Committee to look into the alleged cases of civilian casualties attributed to its own elements.

The bonds between PYD/YPG and PKK, recognized as a terrorist organization also by the EU and NATO, as well as its crimes and violations have been documented on repeated occasions. We invite Amnesty International to re-examine these studies of independent international institutions, including those of its own.