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Turkish soldiers and Free Syrian Army (FSA) units have cleared Sheran town's Serincek village of terrorists in the northwestern Afrin region. Serincek village is located northeast of Afrin. Earlier on Sunday, the Turkish military and the FSA captured Hec Iskendere village in the west of Jinderes in Afrin.
The Arapviran village west of Afrin and near Dikmetaş was also cleared of terrorists. At least 1,369 PKK/KCK/PYD-YPG and Daesh terrorists have been neutralized since the beginning of Operation Olive Branch in Syria's Afrin, the Turkish General Staff said Sunday.
Commando units and FSA fighters are successfully pushing forward, and there is only a distance of three kilometers left until they reach Jinderes, the most important junction on the road to Afrin’s city center.
A total of 1,369 PKK/KCK/PYD-YPG and Daesh terrorists have been "neutralized" since the launch of Operation Olive Branch in Syria's Afrin region, the military said on Monday.Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" to imply the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.Video: Turkish sniper annihilates PKK/YPG armory in Afrin opIn a statement, the Turkish General Staff said that Turkish Armed Forces' overnight airstrikes had destroyed 15 terrorist targets used for shelter as well as ammunition depots, and weapon pits.According to information gathered from the region, 103 PKK/KCK/PYD-YPG and Daesh terrorists were neutralized on Sunday.Turkish military, FSA units only 3 km away from Syria’s JinderesLater the Turkish General Staff released another statement, saying that 31 soldiers have been martyred and 143 others have been injured since the beginning of the operation.The statement added that only one of the wounded soldiers faces a life-threatening injury."Since the beginning of the operation, fighter jets belonging to our Air Forces have destroyed 627 PKK/KCK/PYD-YPG and Daesh terror targets," statement said.Turkish military, Free Syrian Army free another villageOn Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to clear PKK/KCK/PYD-YPG and Daesh terrorists from Afrin in 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 terrorist oppression and cruelty.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.
Over 1,350 terrorists neutralized in Syria operation
The only obstacle in the path of the Turkish army and FSA fighters are the explosives positioned by the U.S.-backed terrorist organizations in fields and on roads.
Bombs are found and destroyed individually. Since the beginning of the operation, 50 different strategic areas have been captured from the clutches of terrorists, among them a town center, 32 villages, three rural areas and 13 hills.
Military deployments along Turkey’s border are continuing, and smoke can be seen rising from many points across Afrin.
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.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis late Sunday acknowledged that some of the terrorist PYD/PKK-led SDF elements shifted to Afrin amid Turkey’s ongoing operation against terror groups in Afrin, Syria."The distraction of what's going on up in Afrin right now, which is drawing off some of the Syrian Democratic Forces, which have got about 50 percent," Mattis told reporters during his flight to Europe, adding that the percentage could be less or more.As the reason for the terror group's mobilization to Afrin, he said that Kurds consider that "their fellow Kurds" in Afrin under attack, referring to Turkey's Operation Olive Branch on the northwestern Syrian city to clear PYD/PKK elements there.Describing Turkey as the only NATO ally with an active insurgency in its order, Mattis also reiterated that Ankara has legitimate security concerns and Washington does not repudiate it."They [Turkey] have a legitimate security concern, and we do not dismiss one bit of that, along that border with Syria," he stated, adding that Washington will continue to work closely with Turkey.The Pentagon had previously stated that some PYD/PKK-led SDF elements were shifting its militants, but did not specify where they were headed.Mattis is expected to meet with his Turkish counterpart Nurettin Canikli in Brussels this week.Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch on Jan. 20 to clear PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin, northwestern Syria.The operation is carried out against the PKK/KCK/PYD-YPG and Daesh terrorist groups under the framework of Turkey’s rights based on international law, UN Security Council’s decisions and self-defense rights under the UN charter.The U.S. has supported the PKK/PYD under the name of SDF, that is considered by Ankara as the Syrian offshoot of the PKK terror organization that has waged a more than 30-year war against the Turkish state.American support for the terror group has long vexed Ankara as Washington views the SDF as a "reliable partner" in its fight against Daesh and continues to provide it with arms and equipment in the face of strong objections by Turkey.The PKK has fought a 33-year war against Turkey that has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths.
Sec Def Mattis admits that PYD/PKK mobilizes in Afrin
The PYD/PKK terrorists used civilians, including children to attack Turkish soldiers, 11 of whom were martyred on Saturday, during the ongoing operation in Syria’s Afrin, a security source said Sunday.The PYD/PKK terrorists have been using civilians to carry out attacks from time to time, the source told Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity due to security concerns.On Saturday, 11 Turkish soldiers, including two pilots were martyred in northwestern Afrin during Operation Olive Branch.About the attack, the source said a Turkish commando team were on a hill at an altitude of 1,027 meters near a village when a civilian group of 70-80 people approached their location at noon.The team at first fired warning shots to stop the civilians from coming nearer.But after the group ignored the warning shots, the Turkish team comprising 16 commandos moved to halt the group. It was then that hand grenades were thrown at the commando team from among the civilians, the source said.Also, PYD/PKK terrorists hiding in the village launched an attack with rockets on the commando team, nine of whom were martyred while a Turkish helicopter, which was sent to respond to the attack crashed, resulting in the martyrdom of two pilots.On Saturday, Turkish General Staff said an ATAK helicopter crashed at around 1 p.m. (1000GMT) during ongoing operation in Afrin.During his address at ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's provincial meeting in Istanbul on Syria, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke about the helicopter that went down during the operation."A while ago, one helicopter was shot down. Of course, all these things will happen. We are in a war...We will of course make them [terrorists] pay a heavy price for these," he said.The source said the civilians made a run for a nearby village after the clashes between the Turkish soldiers and terrorists.Around 40 PYD/PKK terrorists were neutralized by more commandos who arrived at the scene while the other terrorists fled, the source added.A few hours later, the region was completely cleared of terrorists, including the area where civilians were used as "human shields" to carry out such kind of attacks, it said.At least 1,266 PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists have been "neutralized" since the beginning of Operation Olive Branch in Syria's Afrin, according to Turkish General Staff on Sunday.On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to clear PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin, northwestern Syria.Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.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 terrorist oppression and cruelty.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 the "utmost care" is being taken to avoid harming civilians.
PYD/PKK use civilians to attack Turkish troops in Syria
Turkish football team Galatasaray’s Senegal-origin French player Bafetimbi Gomis offered condolences on Sunday for Turkey’s martyrs in the ongoing operation in Syria.On his social media account, Gomis shared a picture that included names of 11 martyrs from Saturday's incident in Afrin.“Life may be going on for us, but there is a fire at homes of 11 martyrs,” he wrote in Turkish on his official Instagram account.He prayed for God's mercy on the Turkish martyrs, adding he was really sorry.On Saturday, PYD/PKK terrorists launched an attack with rockets on Turkish soldiers, nine of whom were martyred while a Turkish helicopter, which was sent to respond to the attack crashed, resulting in the martyrdom of two pilots.On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to clear PYD/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 terrorist oppression and cruelty.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 the "utmost care" is being taken to avoid harming civilians.
French footballer sad for Turkey's Afrin martyrs
The blood of Turkish martyrs and veterans will not go in vain, Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar said on Sunday."Even a single drop of blood of our martyrs and veterans will not be left on the ground," Akar said, according to the Turkish General Staff statement.His remarks came during his visit to southern Hatay province to inspect troops taking part in Operation Olive Branch in Syria's Afrin. Turkish Land Forces Commander Gen. Yasar Guler and Turkish Air Forces Commander Gen. Hasan Kucukakyuz also accompanied him.Video: Latest update on Turkey's Operation Olive BranchOn Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to clear PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin, northwestern Syria.Akar reiterated that the operation aims to establish security and stability along Turkey’s borders and in Afrin as well as to protect Syrians from cruelty of terrorists.Turkish soldier martyred in Operation Olive BranchTwo Turkish soldiers martyred after military helicopter downed amid Afrin opTurkish soldier martyred in PYD/PKK rocket attackHe also said "utmost care and effort" was being taken to avoid harm to civilians, innocent people and environment, despite the fact that terrorists were deliberately wearing civilian clothes and using civilian houses for their positions and shelters.The chief added 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 integrityAkar said Turkey will continue to "resolutely" fight against terrorists in the region until they get uprooted.
Blood of martyrs to not go in vain: Turkish army chief