Syrian interim govt aids Turkish army in securing Afrin

By Esref Musa and Omer Koparan

AFRIN/IDLIB, Syria

A police force drawn up by Syria’s interim government is helping restore security in the liberated city of Afrin.

Police Commander Mohamed al-Bushi told Anadolu Agency on Monday that police would eventually assume responsibility for security in Afrin once the Turkish military and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) had entirely cleared the area of terrorists.

“We have begun working intensively to restore peace and security to the area,” al-Bushi said, pointing out that police had already set up security checkpoints at all of the city’s exit and entry points.

On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch with the aim of eliminating YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin.

On March 18, the 58th day of the operation, Turkish troops and the FSA members announced that the city had been liberated.

Since the operation began, more than 3,800 terrorists who had been operating in the area have been neutralized.

According to the Turkish General Staff, the operation aims to establish security along Turkey's borders and protect local communities from terrorist depredations.

The operation is being conducted in line with international law, past UN Security Council resolutions and full respect for Syria's territorial integrity.

The Turkish military has said that only terrorist targets were being destroyed and that “utmost care” was being taken to avoid civilian casualties.