Turkey affirms support to those in need

By Merve Aydogan

ANKARA (AA) - Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Tuesday reaffirmed Turkey's continuous support to those in need.

He tweeted: "We are always with those who need our support."

Cavusoglu's statement came ahead of a visit to France.

He added: "We established two camps to host civilians fleeing violence in Idlib prior to Operation Olive Branch. We are now building 500 tents to host more than 3,000 civilians in Azez.

"We tirelessly continue our humanitarian aid to the people of Syria as my country hosts 3.5 million Syrian guests. We provide shelter to 235 thousand people in 21 refugee camps."

Turkey on Saturday launched Operation Olive Branch to remove PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin in northwestern Syria.

According to the Turkish General Staff, the operation aims to establish security and stability along Turkish borders and the region as well as to protect the Syrian people 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’s decisions, self-defense rights under the UN charter and respect to Syria's territorial integrity, it said.

The military also said the "utmost importance" was being given to not harm any civilian.

Afrin has been a major hideout for the PYD/PKK since July 2012 when the Assad regime in Syria left the city to the terror group without putting up a fight.