Turkey's Operation Olive Branch extends east of Afrin

AZAZ/ANKARA

Turkish Armed Forces, jointly with the Free Syrian Army (FSA), extended the recently launched Operation Olive Branch on Monday to Azaz district, east of Afrin in Syria.

On Saturday, Turkey launched an operation to remove PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin.

According to Anadolu Agency correspondents, the Turkish Armed Forces extended the operation to Azaz district using its ground forces.

A number of FSA members are reportedly participating in the operation.

Separately, Turkish jets hit terrorist targets at Bursaya Mount in Afrin, which holds strategic importance and provides physical protection to terrorists.

The terror group uses the Bursaya Mount to target civilians in center of Kilis province of Turkey and Azaz district of Syria through mortar shells, artillery and missiles.

Elimination of terrorists from Bursaya Mount, will help Turkey decrease terror threats at its border and protect civilians in Syria.

The Turkish forces at the border are targeting PYD/PKK camps in the villages of Jalama, Himdia, Hajlar, Fraria and Tal Sallur.

The FSA and Turkish forces have already seized 11 targets in Afrin from the terrorist group.

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’s decisions, self-defense rights under the UN charter and respect to Syria's territorial integrity, it said.

The military also said "utmost importance" is being given to not harm any civilian.

Afrin has been a major hideout for the PYD/PKK since July 2012 when the Assad regime in Syria left the city to the terror group without putting up a fight.

Reporting by Omer Koparan and Levent Tok:Writing by Merve Aydogan