14 February 2018•Update: 14 February 2018
By Soner Kilinc
AFRIN, Syria
Turkish Bomb disposal squads continued to defuse explosive devices planted by PYD/PKK terrorists in Mount in northern Syria.
As a part of Operation Olive Branch, the bomb disposal squad destroyed tons of explosives in controlled blasts, including anti-tank mines and remote-controlled explosive devices, in Mount , which had been occupied by PYD/PKK terrorists for nearly four years.
Sniffer dogs are being used in the operation to find explosive devices.
On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to remove PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin.
According to the Turkish General Staff, the operation aims to establish security and stability along Turkey’s borders and the region as well as to protect Syrians from 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 terrorist targets were being destroyed and "utmost importance" was being put on avoiding harm to 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 a fight.
