Turkish ministers phone wounded Anadolu Agency reporter

By Dildar Baykan

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey’s foreign and defense ministers on Saturday phoned the Anadolu Agency’s correspondent who was injured in Friday's cross-border attack perpetrated by the terrorist PYD/PKK organization to inquire about his health.

Mevlut Cavusoglu and Nurettin Canikli called Sarp Ozer, who injured his hand and leg when PYD/PKK’s rocket and mortar attack struck Hatay province, where he was covering Turkey’s ongoing operation in Syria’s Afrin region on Friday.

Ozer was taken to Kirikhan State Hospital in the border province of Hatay.

On Friday, Deputy PM Bekir Bozdag also conveyed his best wishes to Ozer.

Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch on Jan. 20 to clear PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin in northwestern Syria.

Since the start of the operation, PYD/PKK cross-border attacks on civilians have killed at least seven people and injured over 100.

According to the Turkish General Staff, Operation Olive Branch 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.