The “Olive Branch” operation initiated by the Turkish military units and “Free Syrian Army” faction in Afrin region of Syria will be carried out in four stages. According to Turkish “NTV” channel, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim announced about this.
He informed that the special forces of the Turkish armed forces entered the Afrin region under the control of the Syrian Kurds, crossing two Turkish-Syrian checkpoints.
The Turkish Prime Minister emphasized that the purpose of this military operation is to take the 30-km territory bordering Turkey from the Syrian Kurds, and to establish a security zone there.
Earlier it became known that the Turkish Armed Forces had brought tanks to Syria.
At the same time, the Turkish artillery located on the Turkish-Syrian border continues to bombard the Kurdish positions.
Turkish “Haberler” news agency informs that the “Free Syrian Army” and the Turkish military forces have already taken 11 villages from Syrian Kurds.
A number of Arab sources claim that the Turkish side has 4 victims. However, Turkish sources do not confirm this information.
Some Turkish sources also referred to the question of why the operation was called “Olive Branch”. The point is that Afrin area is rich in olive groves, that have long been the source of income for the local Kurdish forces.
Let us remind that the “Free Syrian Army” group which enjoys official Ankara support, has invaded Afrin region of Syria, which is under the control of the Kurds in Syria, with the support of the Turkish Air Force. The operation is called “Olive Branch”.
Ermenihaber.am