Turkish troops form crescent in Afrin town center

By Dilara Kucukerdogan

AFRIN, Syria (AA) - A Turkish drone on Sunday captured footage of soldiers standing in the shape of a crescent at a square in Afrin town center, northwestern Syria.

The town center was liberated from terrorists by Turkish Armed Forces and Free Syrian Army earlier on Sunday during Operation Olive Branch.

The troops gathered at the square to celebrate their victory and posed in front of four military tanks.

They also raised the Turkish flag.

Residents welcomed the troops by chanting slogans in their support and waving at them.

Turkey on Jan. 20 launched Operation Olive Branch to remove 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 terrorist cruelty and oppression.

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 has also said that only terrorist targets are being destroyed and "utmost care" is being taken to avoid harming any civilians.

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 a fight.