By Mohamad Misto,Levent Tok, and Said Ibicioglu

AZAZ, Syria

The PYD/ PKK terrorist group plans to use civilians as human shields as the Turkish military and Free Syrian Army (FSA) move closer to the Afrin city center in Syria as part of Operation Olive Branch, local sources said Sunday.

According to the local sources who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions of speaking to the media, the PYD/PKK is preparing its defense of Afrin’s city center, where there is a large number of civilians.

The terrorist group is reportedly digging trenches at the main entrances and outer neighborhoods of Afrin, and building defensive walls.

Officials of the group also reportedly ordered PYD/PKK terrorists to disguise themselves as civilians.

Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch on Jan. 20 to clear PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin in northwestern Syria.

According to the Turkish General Staff, the operation aims to establish security and stability along Turkish borders and the region as well as to protect the Syrian people 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 decisions, self-defense rights under the UN Charter and respect for Syria's territorial integrity.