New Turkish border gate to Afrin to speed aid delivery

Turkey has decided to open a new border crossing to the northwestern Syrian city of Afrin to speed up the delivery of humanitarian aid there, sources close to the issue told Anadolu Agency on Wednesday.

The decision was taken in a meeting at the Prime Ministry which discussed facilitating humanitarian aid delivery to Afrin, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media.

Turkey's Customs and Trade Ministry and the Hatay Governor's office in southern Turkey agreed to open the gate near the village of Hamam in Kumlu.

The village is located near Jinderes, Afrin, which was liberated by Turkish Armed Forces and Free Syria Army fighters as part of Operation Olive Branch, which was launched on Jan. 20 to clear YPG/PKK-Daesh terrorists from the area.

The sources said construction of the gate would start very soon.

Turkish authorities stepped up humanitarian support to civilians in the city of Afrin after it was liberated by Turkish-backed forces as part of Operation Olive Branch.

The operation aims to establish security and stability along Turkey's borders and the region as well as to protect Syrians from terrorist oppression and cruelty, according to the Turkish General Staff.

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.