SYRIA, AFRIN – Intensive clashes between the Turkish military and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) continue in the Syrian district of Afrin, the SDF is trying to counterattack, the SDF press center said on Saturday.
According to the press service, the clashes continued in the Shahba area. In the area of the village of Tways SDF attacked three strong points of the Turkish army. SDF also attacked two Turkish military camps near the village of Gul-Jebrin in the Aazaz district, which remains under the control of pro-Turkish militants and is used as a stronghold for the Turkish military offensive. According to the SDF, they eliminated at least 13 Turkish soldiers.
Three artillery and mortar shelling killed three civilians in the village of Twais and two in the village of Ein Dhadakne, and many wounded.
The Turkish General Staff earlier said that the country’s air force during the operation in Syrian Afriya struck on Saturday 42 targets of terrorist organizations and destroyed 53 terrorists. Since the beginning of the operation, 447 terrorists have been liquidated, the Armed Forces of Turkey lost two dead for a day, 11 military men were injured, the general staff said.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Turkey on January 20 announced the beginning of the operation “Olive Branch” against the formation of Kurds in Syrian Afrin.
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said last Sunday about the beginning of a ground operation in Afrin. Simultaneously with Turkey, the militants of the “Syrian Free Army” are active.