20 March 2018•Update: 20 March 2018
By Sibel Ugurlu
ANKARA
Turkey’s president said on Tuesday that 3,655 terrorists have been “neutralized” since the start of Operation Olive Branch in northwestern Afrin region of Syria.
Speaking at a ceremony at the presidential complex, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the terrorists were “neutralized” during Turkey’s counter-terrorist operation in Afrin, near Turkey's southern border.
Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.
Erdogan said the last five years showed that Turkey has the power and the capability to fight all kinds of terrorism.
“Twenty-three terrorists were also neutralized during the operations inside Turkey in the last two days,” Erdogan said.
The president said once the terrorism is eliminated from Turkey’s southeastern and eastern regions, the investments in the country would increase.
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.
According to the Turkish General Staff, Operation Olive Branch has aimed at establishing security and stability along Turkey's borders and the region as well as protecting Syrians from terrorist cruelty and oppression.
