19 February 2018•Update: 20 February 2018
By Sefa Sahin
ANKARA
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and government spokesman Bekir Bozdag on Monday called Syrian state-run news agency reports on pro-regime militia preparing to enter Afrin "unrealistic", saying this has not been confirmed by officials.
“Although Syrian official news agency SANA reported that some forces linked to the Syrian regime will enter Afrin, this news has not been confirmed by the official authorities. It is unrealistic, not related to the fact,” Bozdag told reporters following the cabinet meeting in the capital Ankara.
"Any decision by the Syrian regime to send forces in Afrin to support PYD/YPG terror organizations or any step taken in this direction will have disastrous consequences for the region," Bozdag added.
Earlier, the state-run news agency SANA reported that pro-regime "Popular Forces" would enter Afrin in northwestern Syria where a Turkish military operation to remove YPG/PKK-Daesh terrorists is ongoing.
The terrorist organization YPG/PKK-Daesh is said to have held talks with the Syrian regime after more than 70 different strategic areas were liberated during Turkey's Operation Olive Branch since its launch.
On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to clear YPG/PKK-Daesh terrorists from Afrin.
Bozdag said 1,651 terrorists had been "neutralized" since the launch of the operation.
Meanwhile, the YPG/PKK has targeted civilians in Turkey with around 100 cross-border attacks, leading to seven civilian deaths and 125 wounded.
According to the Turkish General Staff, the operation aims to establish security and stability along Turkey’s borders and the region as well as 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 terror targets were being destroyed and "utmost care" was being taken to not harm any civilian.
