Turkey, Free Syrian Army clear village of terrorists

By Levent Tok and Selen Temizer

AZAZ, Syria/ ANKARA, Turkey (AA) - Turkish Armed Forces and Free Syrian Army (FSA) on Friday cleared a village in Afrin, northwestern Syria of terrorists as part of Operation Olive Branch, according to Anadolu Agency correspondents on the ground.

The Bafler village is located in southwest of Afrin.

Since the launch of the operation on Jan. 20, the Turkish military and the FSA liberated 97 targets -- including one district center -- plus 69 villages, 20 strategic mountains and hills, and one YPG/PKK-Daesh base.

Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to remove 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 protect Syrians from terrorist oppression and cruelty.

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.