Anadolu Agency footage shows areas destroyed by YPG/PKK

By Soner Kilinc

AFRIN, Syria

Residential areas, cleared of terrorists in Afrin, northwestern Syria during Turkey's Operation Olive Branch and filmed by Anadolu Agency, bear signs of a turbulent past.

An Anadolu Agency team visited Bulbul town, and Sheikh Huruz, Mikdad and Kastel villages which were liberated from YPG/PKK terrorists.

In Bulbul town, terrorists burned down residential areas and destroyed buildings using improvised explosives.

Huseyin Rajov, 70, a resident of Bulbul, said before the operation terrorists forced the townspeople to migrate to Afrin to use them as human shields.

He was allowed to stay in Bulbul as he is very old. The terrorists forcibly took away one of his sons to join their ranks, he said.

"Before Turkish soldiers came, YPG/PKK members burned everything. Allah helped us. The Turkish army arrived and we are safe now," Rajov said.

He added that the soldiers were providing for all of their needs.

In Sheikh Huruz, Mikdad and Kastel villages, efforts to defuse booby-trap explosives are underway. Only in more than 200 explosives have been defused.

On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to clear YPG/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 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.