484 YPG militants ‘neutralized’ during Op Olive Branch: Erdoğan

ÇORUM

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Jan. 28 that 484 Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) militants were “neutralized” during Turkey’s “Operation Olive Branch” in Afrin, which was launched on Jan. 20 with aims to remove YPG militants from the region.

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

Speaking at a provincial congress in the Central Anatolian province of Çorum, Erdoğan also said the strategic Mount Bursaya in Syria’s Afrin will soon be captured by the Turkish army.

“I just spoke with the [military] commander. I asked how many [YPG militants] were neutralized. He said 484. He also said he hopes Mt. Bursaya will soon be captured,” Erdoğan said.

Following Erdoğan’s remarks, state-run Anadolu Agency announced that the strategic Mt. Bursaya in Syria’s Afrin was cleared of YPG militants on Jan. 28 by the Turkish military under the military operation.