Syrian opposition forces hold military drill in Afrin

AFRIN, Syria

The Syrian National Army (SNA) on Monday held a military drill in a show of support for Turkey's imminent operation east of the Euphrates.

SNA’s special forces also attended the military exercise in Afrin district of northern Syria.

Selim Idris, defense secretary of Syria’s interim government and head of SNA, led the drill which used real ammunition.

Some 500 highly trained soldiers captured a hill from enemy forces during the mock exercise.

The SNA is composed of various Turkey-backed opposition groups which is taking part in Turkey's ongoing Operation Olive Branch in Afrin to liberate the region from PKK and Daesh terrorists.

In a development last week, Syrian opposition groups SNA and the National Front for Liberation united under the interim government's Defense Ministry.

Syria’s interim government was established on March 18, 2013 under the auspices of the national coalition. It is currently headquartered in Syria’s northwestern city of Azaz.

Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in 2011, when the Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected severity.

*Writing by Davut Demircan