PEOPLE OF AFRIN RETURNING TO HOMES IN LIBERATED AREAS
AFTER a long time under the oppression of People’s Protection Units (YPG) terrorists, the people of Afrin’s western village of Deir Ballut, which was cleared only a few weeks ago by Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) in Operation Olive Branch, returned home where they now feel safe.
THE Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and Free Syrian Army (FSA) forces have encircled the Afrin city center as part of the preparations for a final offensive to completely root out the PKK-affiliated groups from the town. A corridor was kept open for civilians to flee.
The advance of Operation Olive Branch forces continues in the villages surrounding Afrin’s center and northwestern part of the city. A TSK statement released yesterday said the city center is surrounded, but safe passage for civilians is still allowed on the southeastern part. Turkish special forces arrived in Afrin earlier this month and are expected to take an active role in the fight within the city.
While some civilians have moved to the region previously liberated during Operation Euphrates Shield, others reportedly continue to move toward Manbij, state-run TRT Haber said Monday. The defensive lines and concentration centers of the People’s Protection Units YPG are mostly located in the Afrin city center. In order to secure its position, YPG forces have established human shields, forcing people to move toward the city center. In addition, Anadolu Agency (AA) footage yesterday showed the YPG stopping locals who wanted to go to areas under the control of the opposition or the regime. The U.N. recently drew attention to the issue, saying local authorities continue to block the exodus of civilians from Afrin, ostensibly referring to the YPG.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan yesterday reiterated Turkey’s sensitivity in ensuring that no harm is done to civilians during the operation. “They say civilians are being killed. We have never targeted civilians. If we had targeted civilians, Afrin would have fallen [from the YPG] a long time ago,” Erdoğan said in Ankara, during the Fourth International Goodness Awards, organized by the Presidency of Religious Affairs.Two more villages, Magharjuq and Darmashkanli, were liberated yesterday. Later, Ma’sar Juqq village in Mabatli district, Qarah Bash in Jinderes, Kafr Dali at-Tahtani, Sheikh Abdurrahman and Kila in the Afrin district were also liberated.
Mines and explosives planted by the PKK-affiliated YPG also continue to be cleared by the TSK and the FSA in order to provide security for locals and a convenient environment to those who previously fled the YPG’s oppressive policies. The number of YPG terrorists killed has risen to 3,400 since the beginning of the operation, according to the TSK. Turkey’s Operation Olive Branch was launched on Jan. 20 to remove the YPG from Afrin in northwestern Syria. According to the Turkish General Staff, the operation aims to establish security and stability along the border and in the region as well as to protect Syrian people from the oppression and cruelty of terrorists.