National soccer team players give military salutes during international matches, Turkish flags flutter from balconies and storefronts, songs extolling the glory days of the Ottoman Empire blare from a border town's loudspeakers, punctuated by the occasional boom of outgoing artillery.
Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighboring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high — as has bewilderment and anger at the overwhelmingly negative international reaction to Ankara's actions.
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National soccer team players give military salutes during international matches, Turkish flags flutter from balconies and storefronts, songs extolling the glory days of the Ottoman Empire blare from a border town's loudspeakers, punctuated by the occasional boom of outgoing artillery.
A Turkish flag hangs above his shop entrance, and he keeps another behind his desk. "We are proud of our flag, that's why we hang it on our homes and shops. And it's also to support the Turkish army for our fight in Syria."
News that Tal Abyad had fallen, announced on state-run media even as shelling continued, led to a flurry of random jubilatory events on the Turkish side of the border. Small convoys of flag-draped cars drove through the dusty streets, horns blaring; gaggles of flag-waving men posed and cheered for television cameras.
Ankara has long argued the Kurdish fighters are nothing more than an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which has waged a guerrilla campaign inside Turkey since the 1980s and which Turkey, as well as the U.S. and European Union, designate a terrorist organization.
That appears to have had little effect abroad. But at home many have rallied behind their president, and some appear genuinely taken aback by the international opprobrium raining down on Erdogan.
Criticism is not tolerated.
"While Turkey could have solved the Kurdish (issue) through dialogue, the government dragged Turkey to the swamp," Tanrikulu said. "War is death, war is pain, war is bloodshed."
"Our people's support is a source of motivation for us," he said.
FILE-In this Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019 file photo, a Turkish police armoured vehicle patrols the town of Akcakale, Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey, at the border with Syria. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighbouring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high with many public signs of support for the military. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis, File)
FILE-In this Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019 file photo a child flashes a hand gesture representing the Turkish far-right grey wolves organisation as he stands by a flag of Turkey's Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) at the Turkish side of the border between Turkey and Syria, in Akcakale, Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighbouring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high, with national emblems being proudly displayed. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis, File)
FILE-In this Friday, Oct. 11, 2019 file photo, mourners carry the coffin of ten-month-old Mohammed Omar Saar, killed during incoming shelling from Syria Thursday, in Akcakale, Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey, at the border with Syria. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighbouring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis, File)
FILE-In this Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019 file photo, shortly after the Turkish operation inside Syria had started, a Turkish soldiers stands at the border with Syria in Akcakale, Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighbouring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high, with signs of the glory days of the Ottoman Empire among the outward signs of patriotism. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis, File)
FILE-In this Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019 file photo, mourners carry the coffin of ten-month-old Mohammed Omar Saar, killed during incoming shelling from Syria Thursday, in Akcakale, Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey, at the border with Syria. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighbouring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high, with national emblems being proudly displayed. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis, File)
FILE-In this Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019 file photo, shortly after the Turkish operation inside Syria had started, a convoy of Turkish forces vehicles is driven through the town of Akcakale, Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey, at the border between Turkey and Syria. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighbouring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high with many public signs of support for the military. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis, File)
FILE - In this file photo dated Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, Gold medalist on the rings Ibrahim Colak of Turkey celebrates on the podium after the men's apparatus finals at the Gymnastics World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighboring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high with many outward sign of national pride on public display. (AP PhotoMatthias Schrader, FILE)
"At times of this kind of Turkish operation, we as Turkish people feel prouder about our nation," said Cuma Gunay, a 47-year-old supermarket owner in the town of Akcakale, which sits on the border with Syria.
FILE-In this Monday, Oct. 14, 2019 file photo, Turkey's players salute as they celebrate a goal against France during the Euro 2020 group H qualifying soccer match between France and Turkey at Stade de France at Saint Denis, north of Paris, France. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighbouring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high, with the National soccer team players giving military salutes during international matches among the outward signs of nationalism. (AP PhotoThibault Camus, File)
A Turkish flag hangs above his shop entrance, and he keeps another behind his desk. "We are proud of our flag, that's why we hang it on our homes and shops. And it's also to support the Turkish army for our fight in Syria."
His town has been hit by mortars since the Turkish offensive began, causing damage but no deaths, although there have been 20 civilian deaths elsewhere inside Turkey from mortar attacks. Turkish-backed Syrian fighters occasionally drive across the border from the battlefield, flashing victory signs and chanting "Allahu Akbar" — God is Great — from the back of their pick-up trucks.
Just across the border lies the Syrian town of Tal Abyad, which fell to Turkish-backed forces on Sunday, although sporadic fighting has continued and Turkish forces were still firing artillery from Akcakale Tuesday.
In this Monday, Oct. 14, 2019 photo, Abbas Gulenc, 60, a council member of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Justice and Development party (AKP) gathers with others in a show of support for Turkey's operation in Syria, beside a poster of Erdogan, in the border town of Akcakale, Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighbouring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis, FILE)
News that Tal Abyad had fallen, announced on state-run media even as shelling continued, led to a flurry of random jubilatory events on the Turkish side of the border. Small convoys of flag-draped cars drove through the dusty streets, horns blaring; gaggles of flag-waving men posed and cheered for television cameras.
"I am overwhelmed by the joy of this achievement. But this achievement should be known by the whole world," 60-year-old Abbas Gulenc, a council member for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's AK Party, said at one such event. He spoke beside a giant poster of Erdogan, who he said "is the real leader of the whole Muslim world and we all love him."
Turkish troops and Turkish-backed Syrian fighters launched their offensive against Kurdish forces in northern Syria on Oct. 9, two days after President Donald Trump suddenly announced he was withdrawing American troops from the area. Erdogan has said he wants to create a 30-kilometer (20-mile) -deep "safe zone" inside Syria.
FILE-In this Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019 file photo, a child stands across from a building damaged by a mortar fired from inside Syria, in the border town of Akcakale, Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighbouring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high, with national emblems being proudly displayed. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis, File)
Ankara has long argued the Kurdish fighters are nothing more than an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which has waged a guerrilla campaign inside Turkey since the 1980s and which Turkey, as well as the U.S. and European Union, designate a terrorist organization.
But the offensive has led to an international outcry, causing tens of thousands to flee their homes and upending alliances in Syria's eight-year war. Having suddenly lost U.S. support, the Syrian Kurdish fighters have turned to Syrian President Bashar Assad to help them fend off Turkey's invasion, setting the stage for a potential military confrontation between Turkey and Syria.
Faced with a backlash, Erdogan launched a public relations offensive and blasted his critics, telling the EU he would "open the doors and send you 3.6 million refugees" if his Syria operation was described as an invasion.
FILE-In this Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019 file photo, taken from the Turkish side of the border between Turkey and Syria, in Akcakale, Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey, smoke billows from targets inside Tal Abyad ,Syria during bombardment by Turkish forces. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighbouring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high with many public signs of support for the military. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis)
That appears to have had little effect abroad. But at home many have rallied behind their president, and some appear genuinely taken aback by the international opprobrium raining down on Erdogan.
"Although Turkey is right to fight against terrorist organizations, European countries and America, all of them are against this operation and against Turkey. Why?" asked Gulenc, in a query often echoed in Akcakale. "Don't they know that this land is not owned by terrorist organizations? It's the land of Syria. So don't these countries know that America is bringing these terrorist organizations to this region for a purpose?"
All opposition parties, bar the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party, have voiced support for the offensive.
FILE-In this Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019 file photo, shortly after the Turkish operation inside Syria had started, local residents cheer and applaud as a convoy of Turkish forces vehicles is driven through the town of Akcakale, Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey, at the border between Turkey and Syria. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighbouring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high with many public signs of support for the military. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis, File)
Criticism is not tolerated.
Last week, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said 121 people had been detained for social media posts critical of the incursion while some 500 people were under investigation for posts characterizing Turkey as an "invading" force and "insulting" the operation under Turkey's broad anti-terrorism laws.
There were dissenting voices within the main opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP, which many believe was forced to voice support to avoid being accused of having terrorist sympathies by Erdogan's ruling party. On Monday, authorities opened an investigation against CHP legislator Sezgin Tanrikulu over a series of critical tweets.
FILE-In this Friday, Oct. 11, 2019 file photo, Turkish police officers secure the area as a Turkish flag-draped mourner attends the funeral of ten-month-old Mohammed Omar Saar, killed during incoming shelling from Syria Thursday, in Akcakale, Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey, at the border with Syria. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighbouring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high with national emblems proudly displayed. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis, File)
"While Turkey could have solved the Kurdish (issue) through dialogue, the government dragged Turkey to the swamp," Tanrikulu said. "War is death, war is pain, war is bloodshed."
There was also a backlash against Mustafa Akinci, president of the self-declared Turkish state in the ethnically divided island of Cyprus, who said although Turkey's offensive is named Operation Peace Spring, "what is being spilled is not water, it is blood." Erdogan was furious, saying Akinci "should know his place" and reminding the Cypriot politician he is in office "thanks to Turkey."
On Monday, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said there was widespread support for the operation.
FILE-In this Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019 file photo, a local resident looks out from a hole on a house that was damaged by a mortar fired from inside Syria, on the Turkish town of Akcakale, southeastern Turkey. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighbouring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis, File)
"Our people's support is a source of motivation for us," he said.
Suzan Fraser in Ankara contributed.
FILE-In this Monday, Oct. 14, 2019 file photo, a man kisses a poster of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during show of support by about a dozen people for Turkey's operation in Syria, in the border town of Akcakale, Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighbouring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis)
FILE-In this Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019 file photo, a Turkish police armoured vehicle patrols the town of Akcakale, Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey, at the border with Syria. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighbouring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high with many public signs of support for the military. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis, File)
FILE-In this Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019 file photo a child flashes a hand gesture representing the Turkish far-right grey wolves organisation as he stands by a flag of Turkey's Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) at the Turkish side of the border between Turkey and Syria, in Akcakale, Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighbouring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high, with national emblems being proudly displayed. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis, File)
FILE-In this Friday, Oct. 11, 2019 file photo, mourners carry the coffin of ten-month-old Mohammed Omar Saar, killed during incoming shelling from Syria Thursday, in Akcakale, Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey, at the border with Syria. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighbouring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis, File)
FILE-In this Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019 file photo, shortly after the Turkish operation inside Syria had started, a Turkish soldiers stands at the border with Syria in Akcakale, Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighbouring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high, with signs of the glory days of the Ottoman Empire among the outward signs of patriotism. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis, File)
FILE-In this Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019 file photo, mourners carry the coffin of ten-month-old Mohammed Omar Saar, killed during incoming shelling from Syria Thursday, in Akcakale, Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey, at the border with Syria. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighbouring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high, with national emblems being proudly displayed. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis, File)
FILE-In this Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019 file photo, shortly after the Turkish operation inside Syria had started, a convoy of Turkish forces vehicles is driven through the town of Akcakale, Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey, at the border between Turkey and Syria. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighbouring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high with many public signs of support for the military. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis, File)
FILE - In this file photo dated Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, Gold medalist on the rings Ibrahim Colak of Turkey celebrates on the podium after the men's apparatus finals at the Gymnastics World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. Since Turkey announced its incursion into neighboring Syria to clear out Kurdish fighters last week, patriotic sentiment has run high with many outward sign of national pride on public display. (AP PhotoMatthias Schrader, FILE)
