Syrians rush to terrorist-free shops in Afrin

By Mohamad Misto, Levent Tok Burak Karacaoglu

AFRIN/IDLIB, Syria

People of Syria’s northwestern Afrin district on Saturday rushed to shops the YPG/PKK terror group had used for black market supplies.

According to local sources, the YPG/PKK terrorists abandoned the control of several areas in the district center.

Among them were some stores terrorists used for selling supplies at apparently high prices.

A gunbattle between civilians erupted over the control of the stores after YPG/PKK terrorists

On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to clear YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin, northwestern Syria, near Turkey’s southern border.

Local sources also said the terror group evacuated hundreds of armed terrorists from the district center with civilian vehicles over the last 48 hours.

Last week, the group moved and mid-level personnel in Afrin from the center, local sources said.

The sources added the terror group was apparently reinforcing its positions.

The terrorists continue to nest in scores of buildings which are linked to each other via tunnels.

Unable to block the entrance of Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and Free Syrian Army (FSA), the YPG/PKK planted explosives in buildings and civilian vehicles, as well as on the route of the Turkish and FSA troops' advance.

The terror group also set heavy weapons ablaze before the TSK and FSA could seize them.

According to the Turkish General Staff, Operation Olive Branch aims to establish security and stability along Turkey’s borders and the region as well as to protect Syrians 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 resolutions, its self-defense rights under the UN charter, and respect for Syria's territorial integrity, it said.

The military also said only terror targets are being destroyed and that "utmost care" is being taken to avoid harming civilians.