Two Turkish soldiers killed in military op in Syria’s Afrin

ANKARA

Two Turkish soldiers were killed and 11 others were wounded with no life threatening injuries during clashes with Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) militants during Turkey’s military operation in Syria’s Afrin on Jan. 27, the Turkish military said.

On Jan. 26, Turkish Health Minister Ahmet Demircan said during a visit to wounded persons in the Gülhane Training and Research Hospital in Istanbul that three Turkish soldiers had been killed since the beginning of the operation.

With the latest casualties, the number of killed soldiers rose to five.

Meanwhile, a total of 447 YPG and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants have been “neutralized” since the beginning of “Operation Olive Branch” in the northwestern Afrin district of Syria, the Turkish military said on Jan. 27.

The military generally uses the term “neutralize” to signify that the targets were killed, wounded or captured.

According to a statement issued by the Turkish General Staff, the army “neutralized” 53 YPG and ISIL militants alone on Jan. 27.

The statement said 22 Turkish jets safely returned to their bases after destroying 42 targets used as weapon pits, shelters, and ammunition depots by the YPG and ISIL.

Two members of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) were also killed and four others were injured, according to the statement.

“Operation Olive Branch” is “successfully continuing as planned,” it added.

The military said it was showing utmost care in order not to harm any civilians during the operation.

On Jan. 20, Turkey launched “Operation Olive Branch” to remove YPG militants from Afrin.