Turkey, Free Syrian Army clear 3 more villages in Afrin

By Eshref Musa and Burak Karacaoglu

AFRIN/ANKARA

The Turkish Armed Forces and Free Syrian Army (FSA) liberated three more villages in Syria's northwestern Afrin region on Friday.

According to Anadolu Agency correspondents on the ground, Turkish troops and the FSA cleared the villages of Farfirtin, Burjke and Kabashin as part of its counter-terrorism operations in the south of Afrin town center.

On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to clear YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin.

Last week, Turkish-backed troops liberated the town center of Afrin, which had been a major hideout for the YPG/PKK since 2012.

Afrin comprises of a district center and six towns: Rajo, Bulbul, Shaykh al-Hadid, Jinderes, Sharan and Ma'betla.

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 are being destroyed and "utmost care" is being taken to not harm civilians.