PYD/PKK explosives kill 6 civilians in Afrin village

By Ali Kemal Akan

ANKARA (AA) – Six members of a Syrian family lost their lives, when explosives left by PYD/PKK terrorists under the carpets of a house detonated on Friday.

The family, who had just left Afrin city center in northwestern Syria, strayed into the booby trapped house in Kirigol village when they were seeking shelter from the rain.

Six people, including women and children, lost their lives; one was trapped under the debris while five others were injured.

The family, comprising 17 people, were among those brought to Afrin’s city center by force by the terrorists.

The injured family members are under treatment at a hospital in Azaz, Syria.

Families, who were forced out of their villages by the terrorist organization and settled in the Afrin center but want to return to their homes, are now being targeted by improvised explosives and anti-personnel mines that are prohibited by the Ottawa Treaty.

The Ottawa Treaty, which outlaws anti-personnel mines, have been ratified or acceded by 163 countries, since it came into force in 1999.

On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to clear YPG/PKK-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 to protect Syrians from the 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 are being destroyed and that "utmost care" is being taken to avoid harming civilians.