Buildings in Syria’s Afrin are a testament to the degree of sensitivity demonstrated by the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) during Operation Olive Branch.
Only terror positions were targeted, and hospitals, schools, mosques and other such buildings were unscathed in the operation. Among the targeted terror positions are shelters, positions and armories.
A hospital located in the northwest of the Afrin district that was used as a terror base and had photographs of the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) ringleader Abdullah Öcalan was not harmed by a single bullet during Operation Olive Branch.
“The TAF did not harm a single building where locals were residing. The proof of this is the buildings in the town enter. While terror positions were targeted, the rest of the buildings suffered no damage,” a battalion commander of the commando forces who entered Afrin said.
Religious and cultural buildings, as well as ancient and archeologic remnants within the scope of the operation are not targeted by the Turkish army during the ongoing operation.
On Sunday, Turkish-backed troops liberated Afrin’s town center, which had been a major hideout for the PYD/PKK since 2012.
Turkey on Jan. 20 launched Operation Olive Branch to remove YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin.
According to the Turkish General Staff, Operation Olive Branch aims to establish security and stability along Turkey's borders and the region as well as protect Syrians from terrorist cruelty and oppression.
