4,044 terrorists 'neutralized' in Afrin op: Deputy PM

By Satuk Bugra Kutlugun

ANKARA

Turkish deputy prime minister on Monday said a total of 4,044 terrorists have been 'neutralized' since the start of the Operation Olive Branch in Syria's Afrin.

Bekir Bozdag's remarks came after a meeting of the Council of Ministers meeting held in the capital Ankara.

Turkey on Jan. 20 launched Operation Olive Branch to remove YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin. On March 18, Turkish troops and Free Syrian Army members liberated the town of Afrin, on the 58th day of the operation.

When asked to comment on a recent chemical attack in Syria's Eastern Ghouta, Bozdag urged international community "to act together".

"Syria is no longer an issue to make plans about," said Bozdag. "It is time to own our humanity and our conscience."

Assad regime forces struck targets in the Damascus suburb’s Douma district on Saturday midnight using a poisonous gas, which left at least 78 civilians dead, according to the White Helmets, a local civil defense agency.