ANKARA

A total of 620 Syrian police candidates will assume the security duties of Syria’s northwestern Afrin region from May 10 after completing the basic training given by the Turkish Police Academy.

Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch on Jan. 20 this year to clear the YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorist groups from Afrin, amid growing threats from the region.

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, according to the Turkish military.

On March 18, Turkish troops and Free Syrian Army members liberated the town of Afrin, on the 58th day of the operation.

Locals continue returning to their homes in Afrin which was liberated from terrorists during Operation Olive Branch.

Police candidates, ages between 18 to 45, took a month-long training period to be completed on May 10.

They are being given training on police regulations, general discipline and operational training such as destroying Improvised Explosive Devices by the Turkish Police Academy and special forces unit members.

Over 5,000 locals also got trainings and started their duty in Azaz, Al-Bab and Jarablus districts after Turkish army cleared those regions from terrorists during Operation Euphrates Shield in 2017.

Reporting by Mustafa Gungor:Writing by Seyit Ahmet Aytac