Five Turkish citizens killed by 82 cross-border rocket attacks in 12 days: Turkish PM

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

The People’s Protection Units (YPG) has killed five Turkish civilians in 82 cross-border rocket attacks since the beginning of “Operation Olive Branch” in northwestern Syria, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said on Feb. 2.

Over 12 days, 82 rockets have been fired into the Turkish border provinces of Reyhanlı, Hatay, and Kilis, Yıldırım said at a ground-breaking ceremony in the capital Ankara.

“Due to these rockets, five of our citizens have lost their lives and 100 of our citizens were injured. This does not include the demolished buildings and mosques,” he said.

“We destroyed their [YPG] tunnels and positions in the operation,” Yıldırım added.

“We will destroy them all,” he vowed.

On Jan. 20, Turkey launched “Operation Olive Branch” to clear YPG militants from Afrin in northwestern Syria.