UPDATE - Turkey, Free Syrian Army clear town center in NW Syria

UPDATES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE; ADDS CONTROL OF RAJO TOWN

By Adam Khako, Burak Karacaoglu

IDLIB/ANKARA (AA) - The Turkish Armed Forces and Free Syrian Army (FSA) on Saturday liberated two more villages from YPG/PKK-Daesh terrorists and took control of Rajo’s town center during Operation Olive Branch in Syria’s northwestern Afrin region.

The villages of Ramadiyah and Hamelika of Jinderes district located southwest of Afrin were liberated, Anadolu Agency correspondents on the field reported.

Clashes continue at Rajo’s town centre as Turkish forces thwart a few resisting terrorists, while mines are being searched and swept.

Rajo, located in northwest of Afrin, is the second town center liberated since the launch of the operation. Bulbul district was the first.

Since Feb. 26, a crescent-shaped corridor, stretching along northwestern Idlib province and Aleppo province’s Azaz district, has cut terrorists’ connection with Turkey’s border.

Since the launch of the operation on Jan. 20, Turkish military and the FSA liberated 123 locations including two district centers, 93 villages, 21 strategic mountains and hills and one YPG/PKK base.

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 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.

The military also said only terror targets are being destroyed and that "utmost care" is being taken to avoid harming civilians.