UPDATE 2 - Turkey, FSA liberate 9 more villages, 3 hills in Afrin

UPDATES WITH 4 MORE VILLAGES LIBERATED

By Said Ibicioglu, Esref Musa and Burak Karacaoglu

AFRIN/ISTANBUL (AA) - The Turkish military and Free Syrian Army (FSA) on Friday liberated nine more villages and three strategic hills in Afrin, northwestern Syria, from the control of YPG/PKK-Daesh terrorists.

According to Anadolu Agency correspondents on the ground, the villages of Miske Fawkani, Miske Tahtani, Shaykh Bilal, Kurdane, Kucuk Meydan and Koliye Jorin and Koliye Jerin in Afrin’s northwestern Rajo district and villages of Kokana and Darkir in Mabatli district were cleared of terrorists during the ongoing Operation Olive Branch.

Additionally, three strategic hills were also cleared of terrorists in the ongoing operation.

Turkish troops and FSA forces have also reached the outskirts of the city of Afrin.

Since the launch of the operation, the Turkish military and the FSA fighters have liberated 261 locations, including 217 villages and 44 strategic mountains and hills.

On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to clear YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin, northwestern Syria.

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 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 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 the "utmost care" is being taken to not harm civilians.