One Turkish soldier killed Syria’s Afrin

ANKARA

One Turkish soldier was killed on March 15 after a hand-made explosive detonated during “Operation Olive Branch,” which started on Jan. 20 to remove People’s Protection Units (YPG) militants from Syria’s Afrin.

A total of 3,524 militants have been “neutralized” since the start of “Operation Olive Branch” in Syria’s northwestern Afrin district, the Turkish General Staff said in a statement on March 15. 

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

On Jan. 20, Turkey launched “Operation Olive Branch” to clear the Syrian-Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) militant group from Afrin.