Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party’s sixth provincial congress in Turkey’s Mersin on Saturday.
“The number of neutralized terrorists in Afrin has risen to 3,213. Once Afrin is captured, it will be delivered to its true owners,” said Erdoğan.
"We are advancing toward Afrin [city center]. Approximately 850 square kilometers are under our control during the Afrin operation, and our aim is to clear 2,000 square kilometers from terrorists," he added.
The Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) and Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters are currently only five kilometers away from the Afrin city center, as Turkey’s Operation Olive Branch enters its 50th day.
The Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) and Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters are currently only five kilometers away from the Afrin city center, as Turkey’s Operation Olive Branch enters its 50th day.A photo was published on Saturday showing the city from where TAF and FSA fighters are currently stationed.Turkish military, FSA liberate 7 more villages in AfrinThe Turkish military and Free Syrian Army (FSA) on Saturday liberated seven more villages in northwestern Syria's Afrin region from YPG/PKK terrorists.Video: Turkey dispatches heavy machinery to troops partaking in Afrin opThe three villages of Babak Ushagi, Qorta, and Qasha in Bulbul, northwestern Afrin were cleared of terrorists by the ongoing Operation Olive Branch.Later on Saturday, four more villages -- the villages of Kafr Rum and Qurt Qulaq in the northeastern Sharan district, Zellaka in the southwestern Jinderes district, and Kfar Zeit in Afrin’s city center -- were liberated by the Turkish military and FSA forces.Since the beginning of the operation, the Turkish military and Free Syrian Army have liberated 171 locations, including five town centers, 135 villages, 31 strategic areas, and one YPG/PKK base.On Friday, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that Turkish-backed troops had surrounded the Afrin city center and were ready to enter at any moment.Turkey ensures safety of 35,000 civilians with Operation Olive BranchOn Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to clear YPG/PKK and 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 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 "utmost care" was being taken to not harm civilians.
TAF, FSA only five kilometers away from Afrin city center
"If we had put our conscience, our morals and our sensitivities aside – as terrorists and some countries do – we would have captured Afrin in three days," said Erdoğan.
“Turkey is the only country which does not have the stain of occupation on its history,” he added.
He added that Turkey will help Afrin to rebuild and repair, including its electricity, water, education, and healthcare systems, just like it did in Jarablus, Ar-rai, Azaz and Al-Bab, after clearing these Syrian cities of Daesh terrorists during Turkey’s Operation Euphrates Shield.
Operation Euphrates Shield, which began in August in 2016 and ended in March 2017, eliminated terrorists along the Syrian border.
“Then we will also clear Manbij, Ayn al-Arab, Tal Abyad, Resulayn and Kamisli of terrorists,” Erdogan added, naming other Syria cities near Turkey’s borders.
The residents of the Afrin town of Kurt Farmez were reunited with their relatives who are fighting among the ranks of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) in the ongoing Operation Olive Branch. With cheers and tears, they welcomed the fighters who rescued them from the PKK/PYD terror. “The PKK/PYD terrorist organization banished us from our hometown three years ago. We were able to enter the town and liberate it without much resistance,” said FSA fighter Abdul-Aziz Mustafa.
Afrin town residents reunited with relatives fighting alongside FSA
President Erdoğan also criticized NATO for its lack of support of Turkey's Operation Olive Branch.
“Where are you, NATO? Is Turkey not a NATO member? You called, and we came to Afghanistan. You called, and we came to the Balkans. Now I’m calling. Why aren’t you coming to Syria? You should act justly,” said Erdoğan.
“We know very well what terrorist organizations and their supporters aim to achieve in Syria. That is why we keep pushing forward,” he added.
Operation Olive Branch, launched on Jan. 20, is continuing successfully as planned. Tanks and heavy machinery have been dispatched for soldiers to use to overcome trenches dug by terrorists.
Turkey dispatches heavy machinery to troops partaking in Afrin op
On Friday, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that Turkish-backed troops had surrounded the Afrin city center and were ready to enter at any moment.
Operation Olive Branch was initiated on Jan. 20 in Afrin to establish security and stability, eliminate terrorists of PKK/KCK/PYD-YPG and Daesh, and save locals from the terrorists’ oppression and cruelty.
Since the beginning of the operation, the Turkish military and Free Syrian Army have liberated 167 locations, including five town centers, 131 villages, 31 strategic areas, and one YPG/PKK base.
A total of 35,000 civilians in Afrin are safe thanks to Turkey’s Operation Olive Branch as Turkey meets the local population’s need, provides food, water, electricity and healthcare.As the Afrin operation continues, a total of 150 towns and villages were rescued from the oppression of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)’s Syrian offshoot, the PYD, which uses civilians as human shields.“We waited for so long”Speaking to Yeni Şafak daily, Jamilah Nabeel, a resident of Afrin’s Bulbul town, said that her husband was forcibly taken to Afrin by the PKK. “We have been living under oppression for six years. They took my husband by force. I sought refuge with the Turkish army along with my three children. Only God knows what we went through. We waited for so long for the Turkish army. They shared everything with us; the electricity and water situation is good. They’ve provided everything.”Arrested for expressing admiration for ErdoğanJamilah Nabeel, originally from Aleppo, spoke of the PKK’s attempts to drive a wedge between the city’s Arab and Turkmen neighbors, noting that she wanted to cross to Turkey with her family, but they were forced to settle in Bulbul when their attempts failed. “My husband loved Recep Tayyip Erdoğan so much and he professed it everywhere he went. One night, a four-vehicle PKK convoy broke into our house and the first thing they asked my husband was if he loved Erdoğan. When he replied affirmatively, they arrested him without asking any further questions. They took him to Afrin and are now using him as a human shield.”TAF: 3,195 terrorists 'neutralized' in Operation Olive BranchTurkish troops, FSA welcomed by women of Syria's Afrin“Thank God Turkey came”The Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) carries out ongoing aid activities in the areas cleared from PKK/PYD terrorists in the context of Operation Olive Branch.Doctors and nurses from the TAF’s medical personnel, along with the Turkish Red Crescent, have entered the Jindaris border town of Deir Ballout, which is adjacent to Turkey’s Hatay, and were met with thanks and good wishes by the local population.A room at a vacant house in the town was transformed into an infirmary where medical personnel from the TAF provided services and examinations to locals who come from nearby towns. The medical teams provided screenings for children and medicine to local families.The Turkish Red Crescent also distributed 198 aid packages to town residents, including food and cleaning products, which was met with immense gratitude by the locals.Seventy-five-year-old Der Ballout resident Mouhammad Karamustafa expressed his gratitude for Turkey, saying, “The YPG/PKK stole my tractor, assets, olives and money; they left me nothing. Thank God Turkey came here. May God bless Turkey.”On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to clear YPG/PKK and 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.Video: Turkey dispatches heavy machinery to troops partaking in Afrin op
Turkey ensures safety of 35,000 civilians with Operation Olive Branch
A total of 3,195 terrorists have been "neutralized" since the start of Operation Olive Branch in Syria's northwestern Afrin region, the Turkish General Staff said in a statement on Saturday.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 and Daesh terrorists from Afrin, northwestern Syria.Turkish troops, FSA welcomed by women of Syria's AfrinAccording 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.
TAF: 3,195 terrorists 'neutralized' in Operation Olive Branch
Local women in the recently secured village of Shawarighat al-Jawz in Syria's Afrin district welcomed Turkish troops and Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters on Friday.Afrin’s villages of Shawarighat al-Jawz and Milkiyah were cleared of terrorists on Thursday as part of Turkey’s ongoing Operation Olive Branch.Turkish troops and FSA fighters have now entered the city of Afrin itself.Anadolu Agency spoke to some local women in Afrin who described the newcomers as “saviors”.Video: Women of Afrin welcome Turkish forces: You saved us from hell“May God bless you,” Um Ahmad, a local resident, said. “You saved us from a living hell.”FSA Commander Ahmad Ebu Kasim, for his part, confirmed that the village had been cleared of terrorists.“I have been reunited with my relatives in Shawarighat al-Jawz, so I’m very happy,” Ebu Kasim said.Since the operation began in January, the Turkish military and the FSA have liberated 161 different locations, including five town centers, 124 villages and 31 “strategic areas”.On Jan. 20, Turkey launched the operation with the aim of clearing Syria’s northwestern Afrin district of YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists.According to the Turkish General Staff, the operation aims to secure Turkey’s borders and protect Syrian civilians from the two terrorist groups.The operation is being conducted within the framework of international law and past UN Security Council resolutions, and with full respect for Syria's territorial integrity.Only terrorist positions are being targeted while the utmost care has been taken to avoid civilian casualties, according to Turkish military officials.
Turkish troops, FSA welcomed by women of Syria's Afrin