World, Middle East

Afrin's Jinderes town in Anadolu Agency drone footage

Footage shows town evacuated as local sources say PYD/PKK terrorists sent residents to Afrin city to use as human shields

06.03.2018 - Update : 07.03.2018
Afrin's Jinderes town in Anadolu Agency drone footage

IDLIB, Syria

Aerial images taken by Anadolu Agency in Jinderes, a district in southwestern Afrin, showed the city had been evacuated by the PYD/PKK terrorist group.

Surrounded by large farming grounds, the town seemed to be largely desolate in the footage.

Local sources told Anadolu Agency that the PYD/PKK terrorist organization had transferred the civilians in Jinderes to Afrin’s city center to use them as human shields.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the terrorist organization had planted mines around Jinderes and set up traps in the town center using handmade explosives.

The PYD/PKK could show resistance in the town center with the remaining terrorists, whose exact number is unknown, and with the mines and traps, the sources added.

The Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters have besieged the town as part of Operation Olive Branch, launched on Jan. 20 to clear the Afrin region from PKK/PYD and Daesh terrorist organizations.

Since the launch of Olive Branch, the Turkish military and the FSA have liberated 148 locations, including 117 villages, 30 strategic areas, four town centers and one YPG/PKK base.

According to the Turkish General Staff, the operation, which was launched to clear YPG/PKK-Daesh terrorists from Afrin, aims to establish security and stability along Turkey’s borders and the region as well as protect Syrians from terrorist oppression and cruelty.

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.

Both the military and Turkish authorities have repeatedly said the operation targets only terrorist elements and "utmost care" is being taken to avoid harming civilians.

Reporting by Burak Karacaoğlu, Levent Tok, Ömer Koparan:Writing by Sorwar Alam

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