Geography of Syria

Former Democratic Union Party (PYD) co-leader Salih Müslim, who was being sought with a “red notice” by Turkey, was caught on Feb. 25 in the Czech capital Prague, state-run Anadolu Agency reported. 

The Turkish Armed Forces bombed a convoy of 30-40 vehicles belonging to the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units [YPG] on Feb. 22 during “Operation Olive Branch” in Syria’s northwestern town of Afrin.

United States Department of State Spokesperson Heather Nauert said on Feb. 22 that “some of the forces [Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG)] that we are working with in the east, we are seeing starting to go to Afrin.”

Turkey has sent hundreds of special operations teams and volunteer village guards into Syria’s Afrin district, where “Operation Olive Branch” against Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) has been ongoing since Jan.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ said on Feb. 22 that the Syrian regime and the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) have “negotiated” for the northwestern Syrian province of Afrin but “could not strike a deal.”

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.

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.

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.