More than 2,500 YPG militants 'neutralized' in Afrin op in Syria's north: Military

ANKARA

Some 2,516 People's Protection Units (YPG) militants were "neutralized" in Turkey's crossborder operation in northern Syria, the Turkish military said in a statement on March 3.

The Turkish General Staff said on early in the day that 2,434 militants were “neutralized” since the start of the crossborder operation. Later in the day, the number has risen to 2,516, the army said.

Turkey launched “Operation Olive Branch” on Jan. 20 along with elements of the FSA to remove YPG militants from Afrin.

Turkey considers the YPG as a terror network due to its ties to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) which is listed as a terror organization by Turkey, its NATO ally the U.S. as well as the European Union.

According to the Turkish General Staff, the operation inside Syria aims to establish security and stability along Turkey’s borders and the region as well as “protect Syrians from terrorist cruelty and oppression.”

Some 41 Turkish soldiers and 116 Free Syrian Army (FSA) militants have been killed since the start of “Operation Olive Branch” into Afrin, Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli said on March 2, speaking at the graduation ceremony of the National Defense University in Istanbul.

Another 119 were wounded, Anadolu Agency reported on March 3.