UPDATE - 4 Turkish soldiers martyred in explosions

ANOTHER SOLDIER MARTYRED IN TURKEY

By Muhammed Boztepe, Sener Toktas

ANKARA (AA) - Four Turkish soldiers were martyred on Thursday in Turkey and northwestern Afrin, officials said.

Three Turkish soldiers were martyred and three others wounded by an explosion during a search operation in Syria's Afrin as part of Operation Olive Branch.

In a statement, the Turkish General Staff said an improvised explosive blew up and martyred three soldiers and injured three others in search operations.

The military offered condolence to the families of the martyred soldiers and wished the injured soldiers a speedy recovery.

Separately an explosive -- planted by PKK terrorists in eastern province of Bitlis -- martyred one Turkish soldier and injured another on Thursday evening, the local governor's office said in a statement.

Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch on Jan. 20 to clear terrorist groups from Afrin in northwestern Syria amid growing threats from the region.

On Sunday, Turkish-backed troops liberated the town center of Afrin, which had been a major hideout for the YPG/PKK since 2012.

After the town center of Afrin was liberated, Turkish military began operations to search for mines and improvised explosive devices to wipe out any traces of terrorism in order to help residents go back to normal lives.

The Turkish General Staff has repeatedly stated that the objective of Operation Olive Branch is to establish security and stability along Turkey's borders and the region as well as protect Syrians from terrorist cruelty and oppression.