Car bomb explodes at marketplace in Syria's Afrin, killing 8
Syrian activists say a bomb blast in a northern town held by Turkish-backed opposition forces has killed at least eight people. The explosion on Sunday in Afrin is the latest in a series of attacks in areas held by Turkish troops and their Syrian allies, who have seized a swath of territory along the border from Daesh and YPG/PKK militants.
- Middle East
- Agencies and A News
- Published Date: 12:00 | 16 December 2018
- Modified Date: 04:33 | 16 December 2018
At least 8 civilians were killed and dozens of others were injured after a bomb-laden vehicle exploded at a marketplace in the northwestern Syrian town of Afrin.
The Anadolu Agency reported that the blast also damaged shops in the area and that White Helmets units launched a search and rescue and firefighting operation amid rubbles.
The wounded were transferred to nearby hospitals.
Security forces tightened their precautions in the area. Another bomb-laden vehicle was discovered on the street in the town center and was difused by bomb squads.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
Afrin district was cleared from PKK-affiliated People's Protection Units (YPG) terrorists by the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and Free Syrian Army (FSA) units during Operation Olive Branch launched in Jan. 2018.
Since Wednesday, when President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that Turkey will soon launch an operation into Syria to clear the land east of the Euphrates River from YPG terrorists, at least 7 civilians were killed and 49 civilians were injured in terror attacks in the northern Syrian town of Azaz controlled by the TSK and the FSA.
The area was leared from Daesh terrorists with Operation Euphrates Shield launched in Aug. 2016.