More than 2,000 YPG militants ‘neutralized’ so far in Afrin operation: Turkish military

ANKARA

The Turkish General Staff said in a statement on Feb. 26 that a total of 2,059 militants have been “neutralized” since the start of “Operation Olive Branch” in the northwestern Syrian district of Afrin.

The authorities use the word “neutralized” in statements to imply that the militants in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.

According to the Turkish General Staff, “Operation Olive Branch” was launched on Jan. 20 alongside elements of the Free Syrian Army (FSA), to clear Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) militants from Afrin and to establish security and stability along Turkey’s borders and in the region.

The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) announced on Feb. 24 that 32 Turkish soldiers were killed and 183 others were wounded since the beginning of the operation.

Another Turkish soldier was killed on Feb. 25 in Afrin, the military said.

The TSK and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) forces captured eight more villages from YPG militants on Feb. 25 as part of the operation in Afrin.