Turkish troops and FSA forces besiege city centre of Syria's Afrin
The Turkish military and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) forces have blockaded the Afrin city center as a part of Operation Olive Branch, the Turkish army announced on Tuesday.
- Türkiye
- Anadolu Agency
- Published Date: 12:00 | 13 March 2018
- Modified Date: 12:26 | 13 March 2018
Turkish Armed Forces announced on Tuesday that the Afrin city center, in northwestern Syria, has been surrounded since Monday as part of the Turkish-led Operation Olive Branch.
In a written statement, the Turkish General Staff said the center of Afrin has been surrounded since Monday as a result of the ongoing operations in the region and "critically important areas" have been seized.
A total of 3,393 terrorists have been "neutralized" since the start of the operation, the army said in a statement on Tuesday morning.
Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.
On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to clear YPG/PKK-Daesh terrorists from Afrin, northwestern Syria.
According to the Turkish General Staff, the operation aims to establish security and stability along Turkey's borders and the region as well as to protect Syrians from the oppression and cruelty of terrorists.
The operation is being carried out under the framework of Turkey's rights based on international law, UN Security Council resolutions, its self-defense rights under the UN charter, and respect for Syria's territorial integrity, it said.
The military also said only terror targets are being destroyed and that "utmost care" is being taken to avoid harming civilians.