Almost 400 PYD/PKK terrorists 'neutralized' in Afrin operation

At least 394 PKK/KCK/PYD-YPG and Daesh terrorists have been killed since the start of Turkey's Operation Olive Branch in northwestern Syria, the military said Saturday.

In addition, nearly 340 PKK/KCK/PYD-YPG, Daesh terrorist targets have been destroyed so far during Turkey's Afrin operation in airstrikes carried out by Turkish Armed Forces, the statement added.

On Saturday, the Turkish military launched an operation on Afrin to clear its border of the PKK's Syrian affiliate the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its People's Protection Units (YPG) militia to prevent them from establishing an autonomous region, which Turkish officials call a "terror corridor," by connecting the northwestern Afrin canton to the Kobani and Jazeera cantons to the east.

According to the military, the operation aims to establish security and stability along Turkish borders and the region as well as protect Syrians from terrorist oppression and cruelty.

The operation is being carried out under the framework of Turkey's rights based on international law, U.N. Security Council resolutions, its self-defense rights under the U.N. charter, and respect for Syria's territorial integrity, it said.

The military has also said that only terrorist targets are being destroyed and "utmost importance" is being put on not harming any civilians.

Afrin has been a major hideout for the YPG/PKK since July 2012, when the Assad regime in Syria left the city to the terror group without putting up a fight.