Turkish army destroys terrorist shelters in Afrin op

By Ali Kemal Akan

ANKARA

Turkish forces destroyed PKK/KCK/PYD-YPG and Daesh terrorist shelters, hideouts and weapon emplacements in an air operation as part of the ongoing Operation Olive Branch in Syria's Afrin on Saturday, according to a Turkish General Staff statement.

The statement said the air operation targeted terrorists in Sheikh Haruz, northeast of Afrin, and was launched at 5.52 p.m. local time (1452GMT).

Earlier on Saturday, the Turkish General Staff said one soldier had been martyred and another injured in Sheikh Haruz, where the terrorist group targeted a Turkish army tank.

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 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 reiterated that only terror targets were being destroyed and that "utmost care" was being taken to avoid harming civilians.