3 more villages liberated during Afrin operation

By Burak Karacaoglu

IDLIB, Syria (AA) - Turkish military and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) on Monday liberated three more villages from the control of terrorists in northwestern Syria's Afrin region.

According to Anadolu Agency correspondents on the ground, the villages of Ikidam, Shaltah, and Marsawiyah in Afrin have been cleared of terrorists during the ongoing Operation Olive Branch.

Since the launch of the operation, 72 different strategic areas have been captured from the clutches of terrorists.

On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to clear PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin.

According to the Turkish General Staff, the operation aims to establish security and stability along Turkey’s borders and the region as well as protect Syrians from oppression and cruelty of terrorists.

The operation is being carried out under the framework of Turkey's rights based on international law, UN Security Council resolutions, its self-defense rights under the UN charter, and respect for Syria's territorial integrity, it said.

The military also said only terror targets were being destroyed and "utmost care" was being taken to not harm any civilian.