Turkey’s ‘Operation Olive Branch’ in Syria’s Afrin enters 18th day

AZAZ – Anadolu Agency

Turkish soldiers and Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters have uncovered a four-kilometer-long ditch used by People’s Protection Units (YPG) militants in a village they captured during the ongoing “Operation Olive Branch” in northwestern Syria.

On the 18th day of the operation, the 3.5-meter-deep and 3-meter-wide ditch linking Dikmetaş, under control of the group, and opposition-held Yazıbağ villages was discovered.

Opposition forces, later, filled the ditch with soil and made it unusable.

A total of 970 YPG militants have been “neutralized” since the launch of “Operation Olive Branch” in Afrin, the military said on Feb. 6.

A total of 36 locations, including 23 villages and 11 strategic hills, have been taken by Turkey so far in the operation.

On Jan. 20, Turkey launched “Operation Olive Branch” along with the FSA to clear YPG militants from Afrin.