16 March 2018•Update: 16 March 2018
By Said Ibicioglu
AFRIN, Syria/ISTANBUL
Turkish Armed Forces and Free Syrian Army (FSA) on Friday destroyed YPG/PKK positions that were being used to prevent civilians from fleeing to safer areas in Syria’s Afrin region.
Turkish army and FSA fighters hit the positions of terrorists during Operation Olive Branch via anti-aircraft missiles and rockets just after YPG/PKK terrorists opened fire at civilians in Afrin’s Sharan town when they tried to flee to safe areas.
No casualties were reported in the YPG/PKK attack.
Anadolu Agency captured the moment when the terrorists' positions were destroyed.
Abu Cafer, one of the commanders of the Free Syrian Army, told Anadolu Agency: “Many positions were hit in the operation coordinated by Turkish Armed Forces that took care to prevent civilians from getting harmed.”
Free Syrian Army forces were later sent to the front lines to accompany civilians to secure areas, Cafer said.
Turkey's Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) also gave humanitarian aid to affected civilians.
Turkish military and Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters are now keeping the humanitarian corridor open, which enables civilians to leave the operation zone in a safe way.
Launched on Jan. 20 to clear YPG/PKK-Daesh terrorists from Afrin, Turkey’s operation is still continuing.
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 the "utmost care" is being taken to avoid harming civilians.
