10 February 2018•Update: 11 February 2018
By Sinan Uslu and Durmus Genc
MUGLA, Turkey
Two Turkish Armed Forces personnel were martyred when an attack helicopter crashed in northwestern Syria’s Afrin during the ongoing Operation Olive Branch Saturday, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said.
Talking to reporters in western Mugla province, Yildirim said: "Unfortunately, one of our two ATAK helicopters on a mission in Afrin region has crashed. Two heroic members of Turkish Armed Forces were martyred."
Yildirim said it remains “unclear" why the helicopter went down and added that an investigation had been launched.
"We do not have any exact evidence and document regarding whether it was downed due to external intervention," he said.
In a statement, Turkish General Staff said one of the ATAK crashed at around 1 p.m. (1000GMT) during operation in Afrin.
Earlier, during his address at ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's provincial meeting in Istanbul, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke about the helicopter that went down during the operation.
"A while ago, one helicopter was shot down. Of course, all these things will happen. We are in a war...We will make them [terrorists] pay a heavy price for these," he said.
Erdogan reiterated Turkey remains "resolute" in its fight against terrorism.
Meanwhile, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu offered condolences to Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar over the incident during a phone call.
In a statement, the CHP said Kilicdaroglu obtained information about the incident.
Turkey on Jan. 20 launched Operation Olive Branch to remove PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin.
According to Turkish General Staff, the operation aims to establish security and stability along Turkish borders and the region as well as to protect the Syrian people 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’s decisions, 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 importance" is being given to not harm 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 putting up a fight.
