Maımaıtımıng Yılıxıatı
23 January 2018•Update: 23 January 2018
By Burak Karacaoglu, Esref Musa and Levent Tok
IDLIB, Syria
Turkey backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) liberated a village in northwestern Syria's Afrin Tuesday, according to Anadolu Agency correspondent in the field.
The FSA in cooperation with Turkish Armed Forces cleared the village of all PYD/PKK terrorists.
The village located in Rajo region near Turkey’s Hatay province was frequently used by PYD/PKK terrorists in their cross-border attacks, and had become a strategic stronghold for the terrorists.
Turkish Armed Forces and FSA have already liberated 16 targets from PYD/PKK on the fourth day of Turkish-led military campaign.
Turkey on Saturday launched Operation Olive Branch to remove PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin.
According to Turkish General Staff, the operation aims to establish security and stability along Turkish borders and the region as well as to protect the Syrian people 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’s decisions, self-defense rights under the UN charter and respect for Syria's territorial integrity, it said.
The military has also said that only terrorist targets are being destroyed and "utmost importance" is being given to not harm any civilians.
Afrin has been a major hideout for the PYD/PKK since July 2012 when the Assad regime in Syria left the city to the terror group without putting up a fight.
