The warplanes end the first 24 hours of their raids on Afrin and the spot of clashes between the Turkish forces and the factions against the SDF expands to include 6 areas
The forces of “Olive Branch” Operation take the control of two villages on the northern and the western border of Afrin with Turkey and Iskenderun
The explosions are still rocking Afrin area in the northern section of Aleppo countryside, on the border with Turkey and Iskenderun, which is almost besieged by the Turkish forces and the rebel and Islamic factions operating with them within the “Olive Branch” Operation, except a corridor linking between it and Aleppo city through the regiem-held areas in Nubl and Al-Zahraa, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights learned that these explosions caused by ongoing artillery, aerial and rocket shelling by the Turkish artillery and missiles and the warplanes which carried out tens of airstrikes during the last 24 hours, which targeted Afrin city and the townships of Maabatli, Raju, Jendires, Bulbula, Shirawa and Sharra, after Turkey announced the start of the “Olive Branch” Operation through which it aims to take the control of the entire area of Afrin which is controlled by the SDF.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored in the after noon of today Sunday the 21st of January 2018, that the warplanes carried out successive raids targeting the vicinity of Afrin city, areas in Sharra Township, the area of Rubar Camp, and other areas in Raju, Bulbula and Qastal area, in conjunction with the continuation of the artillery and rocket shelling continuously on the border areas, and on areas in deep Afrin area, which left wounded, and information about the fall of 2 casualties by bombardment on Afrin countryside, while the SOHR monitored that the circle of clashes has expanded, with the continuation of the violent clashes between the SDF against the fighters of the rebel and Islamic factions and the Turkish forces, in the areas of Kerdu, Balyeh, Gharbala, Adah Manly, Shinkal and Hamam on the Syrian – Turkish border, in an attempt by the Turkish forces to go deep into and take the control of area in Afrin, which will enable them to hold their presence in it and go deeper into the area, in which the clashes are accompanied by exchange of targeting which resulted in the of vehicles and armored vehicles of the Turkish forces and the clashed parties, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights learned that the Turkish forces and the factions took the control of the second village in Afrin countryside, which is Adah Manly village, located on the western border of Afrin with Iskenderun, which the factions managed to capture 3 fighters of the SDF in Adah Manly area.
And the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published few hours ago, that the number of the civilian casualties in Afrin city has increased to 7 citizens documented by the SOHR, including a child under the age of 8, because of the aerial bombardment by the Turkish warplanes, which targeted during the past 24 hours, areas in Afrin city and other areas in Ayn Daqneh, Biloniyya, Aqbiya, Kerdu, Shikhorzah, Azzawiyyah, Haj Hasna, Kafryeh, Hajika, Blilka and other areas in the Township of Raju, Jendires, Shirawa, and in the northwestern countryside of Aleppo, and the death toll is expected to rise because there are some people in critical situation.