Nearly 950 militants ‘neutralized’ in Turkey’s Afrin operation

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

A total of 947 People’s Protection Units (YPG) and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants have been “neutralized” since the launch of “Operation Olive Branch” in Syria’s Afrin district, the military said on Feb. 5.

Turkish authorities often use the word “neutralized” in their statements to imply the militants in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.

In a statement, the Turkish General Staff said 12 militants had been “neutralized” in overnight airstrikes on Feb. 4.

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

Another hill in Afrin captured

Turkish soldiers and Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters took control of another strategic hill in northwestern Syria on Feb. 4, as Turkey’s ongoing operation in Afrin entered its 16th day.

Located in the southern Raju town in western Afrin, Hill 1027 was captured, according to a security source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media.

So far, 33 areas, among them 21 villages, settlements and 10 strategic mountains and hills located around Afrin, have been freed from the group.