Turkish forces, Free Syrian Army capture Afrin village

By Omar Koparan

AZAZ, Turkey

Turkish forces and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) on Monday captured another village from PYD/PKK terrorists in Syria's Afrin.

According to an Anadolu Agency correspondent based in the region, Dikmetas village in the town of Sharan and Mount Sirghaya were both cleared of terrorists.

Since the beginning of Turkey’s Operation Olive Branch on Jan. 20, the Turkish Armed Forces and the FSA have managed to capture 36 strategic areas.

According to the Turkish General Staff, the ongoing operation aims to secure northern Syria’s border region with Turkey and protect the civilian population from PYD/PKK terrorists.

The operation is being carried out in line with international law; past UN Security Council resolutions; the right to self-defense as enshrined in the UN charter; and respect for Syria's territorial integrity.

The Turkish military has stressed that only terrorist sites and positions are being targeted while the "utmost importance" has been attached to avoiding civilian casualties.

Afrin has been a stronghold for the PYD/PKK since mid-2012, when Syrian regime forces withdrew from the area allowing the terrorist group to fill the vacuum.