The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Turkish shelling continues in conjunction with the ongoing fighting between “Olive Branch” Operation Forces and the Kurdish Forces

Afrin area is still witnessing violent clashes and intense shelling since the start of Operation “Olive Branch” on the 20th of January 2018, where the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights documented shelling by the Turkish forces using artillery and missile shells, targeting places in Sharra Township in the northeast countryside of Afrin, coincided with shelling on places in the Townships of Rajo and Jendires in the northwestern and southwestern countryside, while Kaddah area and other areas in Raju Township witnessed violent clashes between YPG and the Self-Defense Forces on against the Turkish Forces and the rebel and Islamic factions, in areas in the western and southwestern countryside of Afrin, amid exchange of targeting in the clash areas between both parties, and confirmed information about more casualties among their ranks, in a renewed effort by the Turkish Forces and the factions of “Olive Branch” Operation to achieve more advancement in the military operation, which is in its 26th consecutive day, in the wake of their ability to impose their control over a town and 24 villages with a percentage of 7% of the total villages of Afrin, as they controlled Bulbula town and 23 villages, they are: ((Jabal Barsaya – Qastal Jandu and Dikmdash in Sharra Township in the north-eastern countryside of Afrin, and the villages of Shenkali, Bekah, Alikar, Za’rah, Balyeh, Qarnah, Bulbula and Abudan in Bulbula Township in the northern countryside of Afrin, Edmanli, Ali Beska and Balelka in Raju Township in the south-western countryside of Afrin, Kanye, Khalilah, Amra, Mamlu Oshagli in Sheikh Hadid Township in the west of Afrin, the villages of Hamam, Mala Khalil, Dayr Ballut, Haj Iskender, Muhammadiyah and Ashka in Jendires Township in the south-western countryside of Afrin)).

And the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has documented the death and injury of  77 Syrian citizens of the Kurds, Arabs and Armenians, including 21 children and 15 citizen women, since the 20th of January 2018, while tens other citizens were injured with varying severity, but no information about casualties was reported, while the SOHR documented the death of 163 fighters of the YPG and the Self-Defense forces who were killed in these military operations, while it has increased to 211, the number of the fighters and soldiers of the forces of the “Olive Branch” Operation who were killed in these clashes, including more than 34 casualties of the Turkish forces including 2 pilots, while the others are fighters of the rebel and Islamic factions, and tens of members of the both parties were injured with varying severity, which may raise the death toll even more, including at least 208, those who were killed since the beginning of change of power balance on the 31st of January 2018. They are at least 25 soldiers of the Turkish forces, while at least 115 fighters of the rebel and Islamic factions operating within the “Olive Branch” Operation Forces, while at least 73 fighters of the YPG were killed in the operations and clashes witnessed during the past 2 weeks in Afrin area.