The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

The “Olive Branch” Operation continues in Afrin area and the violent fighting continues on the border line with Turkey and the shelling renews targeting separated places in the area

The “Olive Branch” Operation which Turkey announced on the 20th of January 2018, against Afrin area, is continuing, and in the details obtained by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights; the Turkish forces shelled during the last night, areas in Jendires town and other places in the surrounding villages in the western countryside of Afrin, in conjunction with shelling targeted the border areas and areas and other areas in the deep of Afrin area by the Turkish forces by artillery and mortar shells and missiles, while the clashes are continuing between the YPG and the Self-Defense Forces against the Turkish forces and the rebel and Islamic factions, in areas in the border positions with Turkey, where the clashes are concentrated in the areas of Qastal Jendo in the north-east of Afrin, Bulbula and Raju in the north and the north-west of Afrin, and other areas in Shaykh Hadid and Jendires reaching Hamam village in the south west of Afrin.

 

The clashes between the both parties are accompanied by intensive exchange of targeting, amid the flight of the Turkish warplanes over Afrin area, and primary information about human losses as a result of the exchange o targeting and the clashes between the both parties, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored yesterday that more citizens were killed raising to 32 at least, the number of citizens who have been killed since the “Olive Branch” Operation was launched, they are 2 citizens were killed in shelling by the SDF on areas in Kiljibrin town controlled by the rebel and Islamic factions in the northern countryside of Aleppo, and 30 citizens including 8 children and 4 women, the number of citizens who were killed by the Turkish aerial, artillery and rocket shelling on several areas of Afrin located in the north-western countryside of Aleppo, while the ongoing clashes, shelling, raids and exchange of targeting in the contact areas between the both parties, resulted in the fall of more human losses, in which it has increased to 42 at least, the number of the fighters of the YPG and the Self-Defense forces who were killed in these clashes and the Turkish airstrikes and the rocket and artillery shelling, while the death toll has increased to 48 at least, the number of fighters of the rebel and Islamic factions operating within the “Olive Branch” Operation who were killed in addition to 2 soldiers of the Turkish forces, while these clashes resulted in the fall of a large number of wounded in the ranks of the both parties, as well as the presence of captives.