Afrin, Syria

The Turkish General Staff said in a statement on Feb. 22 that a total of 1,829 militants have been “neutralized” since the start of “Operation Olive Branch” in the northwestern Syrian district of Afrin.

Ankara appreciates the United Kingdom’s stance on Turkey’s ongoing “Operation Olive Branch” in the northern Syrian district of Afrin, a senior ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) official said on Feb. 21.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Feb. 20 said the issue of pro-regime militia in Syria’s Afrin was “closed for now.”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Feb. 20 that the situation in Syria's Afrin could be resolved through direct dialogue between Damascus and Ankara, the Interfax news agency cited him as saying.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Feb. 20 that the city center of Syria’s Afrin will be “encircled” in the coming days by advancing Turkish soldiers and members of the Free Syrian Army (FSA). 

The Turkish General Staff said in a statement on Feb. 20 that a total of 1,715 militants have been “neutralized” since the start of “Operation Olive Branch” in the northwestern Syrian district of Afrin.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and government spokesman Bekir Bozdağ on Feb. 19 called Syrian state-run news agency reports on pro-regime forces preparing to enter Afrin “unrealistic,” saying this has not been confirmed by officials.

With Turkish-led forces stepping up their military operations against the Syrian Kurdish militia, the YPG, in Syria's Kurdish-controlled Afrin enclave, Ankara has reacted cautiously to reports that Damascus is set to intervene militarily.

Syrian Kurds have reached an agreement with the Syrian governmental army to enter the city of Afrin and help repel the Turkish offensive in the region, the BBC reported.

Syrian state television channel al-Ikhbariya TV said on Feb. 19 that pro-Syrian government forces would soon enter northwestern Syria’s Afrin region, where Turkey is fighting against the People’s Protection Units (YPG).