23 January 2018•Update: 23 January 2018
By Burak Karacaoglu, Esref Musa and Levent Tok
IDLIB, Syria
The Free Syrian Army (FSA), backed by the Turkish Armed Forces, on Tuesday captured a strategic village and two hills in Afrin, Syria, according to Anadolu Agency correspondents in the region.
The village of Hammam, in Jindaras in the northwestern district of Afrin, lies in a strategic location, as the terrorist PYD/PKK has been using it to attack Turkey’s southern Reyhanli district in the Hatay province.
The village is also situated in a valley stretching between the Turkish border and the city of Afrin.
Turkey on Saturday launched Operation Olive Branch to remove the PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin.
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.
The military also said the "utmost importance" is being put on not harming civilians.
Afrin has been a major hideout for the PYD/PKK since July 2012 when the regime of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad left the city to the terror group without putting up a fight.
