Hours after losing control of it, SDF restore the strategic Highlands of Barsaya and continuous violent clashes take place in several areas

The violent clashes continue in areas in the northern and western borders of Afrin with Turkey and Iskenderun, between the Turkish forces and the rebel and Islamic factions of the Operation “Olive Branch” against the Syria Democratic Forces, the clashes are concentrated in the areas of Balya, Qarnah in the Bulbula Township, and Shinkal and Edmanli northwest of Afrin area, and in the areas of Shadia and Sorkeh in Raju Township, coincided with the continued intense missile shelling by the Turkish forces on the above-mentioned areas and on other areas in the villages of Hamam, Khalil, Diwan and Dikmdash, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored the Syria Democratic Forces carry out a counteroffensive, through which they managed to re-control the strategic Highland of Barsaya, after hours of controlling it by the Turkish forces and the factions.

The Syrian Observatory published hours ago that the ongoing clashes, which have been taking place since the announcement of the operation since the 20th of January 2018, caused human losses, where tens of civilians and fighters were killed, and the SOHR documented the death of 24 civilians. The martyrs are 21 civilians including 6 children and a woman, who were killed in shelling by the Turkish forces and the Turkish warplanes on Afrin city and the areas of Jilbara and Marimeen and other places in Afrin city, and a young man was killed by a sniper of the “Olive Branch” Operation forces, and a man and his child were killed in shelling by the SDF on towns of Kiljibrin in the northern countryside of Aleppo, and at least 26 fighters of the SDF and then Civil Defense were killed in Turkish aerial and artillery shelling and the clashes, and 19 fighters of the rebel and Islamic factions operating in “Olive Branch” Operation were killed in targeting and clashes, and the SOHR monitored the presence of 9 bodies in the battle ground, whose identity is still unknown and there is information about others who were taken from the shelling areas and from under the rubble caused by the Turkish shelling and the exchange of targeting between both parties, and there is information about the presence of captives from both parties, in addition to capturing 5 fighters of the Self-defense Forces, The SOHR published hours ago that the “Olive Branch” operation forces, led by the Turkish forces, managed to advance in the area and control the hill of Sheikh Khoraz in the northern countryside of Afrin on the northern borders with Turkey, after they controlled Bersaiya hill, and sources confirmed to the SOHR that these are the most violent clashes accompanying heavy shelling are ongoing between the SDF against the Turkish forces and the factions.