The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

6 people injured in the renewed Turkish shelling on the countryside of Afrin, medical sources confirm the use of gases in the shelling

The Shelling by Turkish forces and the factions of the “Olive Branch” Operation continue in Afrin area in the northwest of Aleppo Province, where the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored shelling targeted Sheikh Hadid area west of Afrin, which injured 6 persons, where their pupils were dilated and suffered difficulties in breathing, medical sources confirmed the use of gases during the shelling, but the Syrian Observatory was not able until now to know the type of the used gases.

It worth mentioning that the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published hours ago that Afrin area is witnessing continuation of the military operations between the forces of the “Olive Branch” Operation against the Kurdish forces, where the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored violent clashes taking place in Mahmoudiyah village in the south of Jendires town in the south-western countryside of Afrin, between the Turkish forces and the rebel and Islamic factions against the YPG and the Self-Defense Forces, in conjunction with exchange of targeting in the clash areas, amid renewed shelling by the Turkish forces on areas in Afrin countryside, and the Syrian Observatory learned that 4 members of the forces of the “Olive Branch” Operation were killed, and the Kurdish forces still have the bodies of two of them, and confirmed information about human losses in the ranks of the both parties.

And the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights learned that the Turkish forces and the factions participating in the attack, are fighting desperately in order to reach Jendires town which is few kilometers away from the battle front, while the Turkish warplanes targeted areas in the townships of Raju and Sheikh Hadid, amid artillery shelling which targeted the same places, and with the fall of more human losses it rose to 173, the number of the fighters of the YPG and the Self-Defense forces who were killed in these military operations, while it has increased to 219, 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 232, 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 124 fighters of the rebel and Islamic factions operating within the “Olive Branch” Operation Forces, while at least 83 fighters of the YPG were killed in the operations and clashes witnessed during the past 2 weeks in Afrin area, while the SOHR documented that the death toll of the Syrian citizens of the Kurds, Arabs and Armenians has increased to 78 including 21 children and 15 citizen women, who are documented by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights since the 20th of January 2018, while tens others were injured with varying severity, and no information about human losses.

And the Turkish forces and the factions managed to take the control of one town and 27 villages with a percentage of 8% of the total villages of Afrin, as they controlled Bulbula town and 24 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). The SOHR learned that the Turkish forces are trying to advance and reach Jendires town in the southwestern countryside of Afrin.