Two Turkish soldiers killed in Syria’s Afrin, Idlib

ANKARA

Two Turkish soldiers were killed in mortar attacks in Syria’s Afrin district and Idlib province, according to a military statement on Feb. 5.

The Turkish General Staff in a statement said one of the soldiers was killed in a mortar attack by People’s Protection Units (YPG) militants in the YPG-held Afrin’s Kuri Hill region. Turkish Armed Forces responded to the attack immediately, it added.

Turkey on Jan. 20 launched “Operation Olive Branch” to remove YPG militants from Afrin.

One Turkish soldier killed in Idlib

The other Turkish soldier was killed at an observation point in the rebel-held Idlib, where Russia and Turkey are in works to establish a de-escalation zone as part of the Astana agreement.

Five other Turkish soldiers were slightly injured in the same mortar attack. The wounded soldiers were taken to hospital.