ANKARA
Turkish military and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) have liberated 415 square kilometers (160 square miles) during the ongoing operation in Syria's northwestern Afrin and cleared 101 areas of YPG/PKK-Daesh terrorists.
In Afrin, terrorists now have only 7 kilometers (4 miles) of border connection with Turkey in the north and 7.8 kilometers (4.8) in the west, according to Anadolu Agency's map calculations.
Turkish soldiers and FSA fighters are continuing to liberate more areas and clear the border of terrorists.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday 1,873 terrorists had been neutralized so far in Afrin while 415 square kilometers of territory had been liberated.
Since the launch of the operation on Jan. 20, the Turkish military and the FSA have liberated 100 targets including one district center plus 73 villages, 20 strategic mountains and hills, and one YPG/PKK-Daesh base.
Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to remove YPG/PKK-Daesh terrorists from Afrin.
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 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.
Reporting by Selen Temizer and Levent Tok:Writing by Fatih Hafiz Mehmet
