- Title: "We just want safety," says resident of Tel Abyad
- Date: 14th October 2019
- Summary: TEL ABYAD, SYRIA (OCTOBER 14, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF TURKEY-BACKED SYRIA OPPOSITION FIGHTERS CONTROLLING CARS AT CHECKPOINT IN RECENTLY CAPTURE TEL ABYAD FAMILIES AND CHILDREN IN BACK OF TRUCK / BOY WAVING AT VEHICLE CARRYING FIGHTERS TRAVELLING ON ROAD SYRIAN REBELS IN STREET REBEL COMMANDER WEARING SYRIAN OPPOSITION FLAG, SPEAKING TO FAMILY INSIDE VEHICLE (Arabic): ''My brothers, a message to all the families who are outside Tel Abyad, whether they are in Turkey or in Europe or anywhere, that they should come back to their homes in Tel Abyad, safe and sound.'' VAN WITH PASSENGERS DRIVING AWAY FIGHTERS IN THE BACK OF A VEHICLE FIGHTER SPEAKING TO TAXI DRIVER / ANOTHER FIGHTER SEARCHING TRUNK OF THE TAXI (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) UNIDENTIFIED DISPLACED SYRIAN SAYING: ''Yes, we were sleeping in the bush." (Reporter saying: Welcome back and hope we are not bothering...) "Not at all, we just want safety, we don't ask for anything anymore, just safety. God help us all.'' FIGHTER MOUNTING SECURITY OUTSIDE A BUILDING / SYRIAN KURDISH FLAG FLYING AT MAST IN THE BACKGROUND SYRIAN KURDISH PEOPLE'S PROTECTION UNITS (YPG) AND WOMEN PROTECTION UNITS (YPJ) WRITTEN ON THE ENTRANCE DOOR OF A BUILDING FIGHTERS BURNING KURDISH FLAG FIGHTERS RAISING SYRIAN OPPOSITION FLAG ON POLE SYRIAN OPPOSITION FLAG FLYING AT MAST VARIOUS OF FIGHTERS PERFORMING SALUTE
- Embargoed: 28th October 2019 14:04
- Keywords: Syria Turkey military operation Kurdish militia northern Syria border town Tel Abyad
- Location: TEL ABYAD, SYRIA
- City: TEL ABYAD, SYRIA
- Country: Syria
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts
- Reuters ID: LVA001B12I1XJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A resident of Tel Abyad who returned home with his family on Monday (October 14) after Turkey-backed rebels seized the strategic border town said people just want safety.
"We were sleeping in the bush... We just want safety, we don't ask for anything anymore, just safety," the man said at a checkpoint in the city centre.
Tel Abyad is one of two border towns that Turkey said on Sunday (October 13) it has gained full control of. The second town is Ras Al Ain.
Syrian rebels set up checkpoints along the roads of Tel Abyad on Monday and searched cars driving in the town as they called on displaced Syrians and refugees around the world to return home.
Turkey launched its offensive against the groups which it calls terrorist last week after U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw some 50 special operations forces from two outposts in northern Syria, in a move that drew sharp criticism, including from his fellow Republicans.
(Production: Khalil Ashawi, Ayat Basma) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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