394 militants 'neutralized' in Turkey’s ongoing op in Syria: Turkish military

ANKARA

Some 394 militants have been “neutralized” since the beginning of Turkey’s “Operation Olive Branch” in Syria’s Afrin district, the Turkish Armed Forces announced on Jan. 27. 

“Neutralized” is a term used by the Turkish military and officials to indicate militants were either killed, wounded or captured.

“340 targets of the PKK [outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party], KCK [Kurdistan Communities Union], PYD/YPG [Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party/People’s protection Units], and ISIL [Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant] terror organizations have been destroyed,” the army said in its statement.

The military reiterated that it is taking the utmost care during the operation to not harm any civilians.       

"The only things being targeted are terrorists, and any shelters, pits, weapons, vehicles, and equipment that belong to them," it said.       

The operation, which has been dubbed “Operation Olive Branch,” is "successfully continuing as planned," the military added.  

During the operation, three Turkish soldiers were killed and 30 injured, while 13 members of the Turkey's local ally the Free Syrian Army (FSA) were killed and 24 injured, the military also said.    

Meanwhile, the Turkish Armed Forces and Free Syrian Army on Jan. 27 completely seized a Syrian village from the YPG militia as part of the Operation Olive Branch.         

On day eight of the operation, Turkish forces and the FSA took full control of the Ali Bakki district of the town of Raju, northwest of Afrin, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency reported from the field.       

The FSA in cooperation with the Turkish Armed Forces cleared the village of all YPG militia.       

Also, an area in Raju known as point 740 and a militia training camp were seized.       

Over 10 militia were “neutralized” during the liberation.