Turkey ramps up incursion in Syria’s Afrin
Ankara, (MILLAT ONLINE)::Turkey and allied Syrian rebels have pressed on with Operation Olive Branch in the Kurdish-controlled Afrin enclave despite mounting international concern and reports of rising civilian casualties, MIA report said.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said heavy bombardment and Turkish air strikes were accompanying ground fighting around Jandairis and Rajo, two areas to the west of Afrin near the Turkish border.
The Britain-based war monitor reported that Turkish-backed forces had seized control of the border village of Shinkal to the northwest.
“Turkish forces dispatched new military reinforcements overnight, including fighters and equipment, to Shinkal in an attempt to consolidate their control over several points and support attacking forces,” said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman.
Turkey and its Syrian allies launched Operation Olive Branch against the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), on January 20.
On Wednesday, the Turkish army said it destroyed 22 YPG targets overnight. Ankara has denied hitting civilians in its military operations, but hospitals in Afrin say they are receiving civilian casualties on a daily basis.