09 March 2018•Update: 10 March 2018
By Levent Tok, Esref Musa, Said Ibicioglu and Burak Karacaoglu
AFRIN/ANKARA
Turkish Armed Forces and Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters on Friday liberated four villages in Syria's northwestern Afrin.
According to Anadolu Agency correspondents on the ground, Maryamayn and Anab villages, located east of Afrin center, were cleared of YPG/PKK terrorists.
Earlier on Friday, the Turkish troops and FSA forces cleared Hallubi Kabir village in Afrin's northeast and had taken control of a strategic dam which provides water to Azaz and Afrin regions.
The western part of the dam, however, is still under control of the terrorists.
The dam, known as April 17 Dam, is the only source that provides clean water and electricity to Afrin.
Also on Friday, Turkish troops and the FSA fighters liberated Kurt Farmez village in Afrin's northeast.
Since the beginning of the operation, the Turkish military and the Free Syrian Army have liberated 164 locations, including five town centers, 128 villages and 31 strategic areas.
On Jan. 20, Turkey launched the operation 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 were being destroyed and "utmost care" was being taken to not harm civilians.
