Baku, Azerbaijan, March 16
By Rufiz Hafizoglu – Trend:
Turkish Air Force has dropped leaflets over the Syrian city of Afrin, saying the Turkish armed forces target only terrorists, not civilians, the Turkish General Staff said in a message March 16.
The leaflets read that the civilian population, which under the pressure of terrorists, is forced to keep the so-called defense of Afrin, must lay down arms.
The General Staff of Turkey announced on March 13 about complete encirclement of Afrin by the Turkish Armed Forces and Free Syrian Army.
On Jan. 20, the Turkish Armed Forces, together with the Free Syrian Army, launched the Operation Olive Branch in Afrin, Syria.
Earlier, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim announced that about 8,000-10,000 PYD/YPG terrorists are supposed to be hiding in Afrin.
Turkey began drawing its military to the Syrian border in late June 2017. The forces were being concentrated in Turkish Kilis Province bordering Syrian territory controlled by YPG/PYD.
On Aug. 24, 2016, Turkish Armed Forces, with the support of the Syrian opposition, launched the Euphrates Shield Operation against the IS militants and liberated the city of Jarabulus as well as the city of Al-Bab in northern Syria.
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