Turkey, Free Syrian Army free 1 more village in Afrin

By Burak Karacaoglu, Levent Tok and Adham Kako

AFRIN, Syria / ANKARA, Turkey (AA) - Turkish and Free Syrian Army (FSA) forces on Wednesday liberated one more Syrian village from YPG/PKK-Daesh terrorists as part of a Turkish-led operation in Afrin, northwestern Syria.

Mashale, a village in Sharan in northeast Afrin, was cleared of terrorists, according to Anadolu Agency correspondents on the ground.

Since the launch of Operation Olive Branch on Jan. 20, the Turkish military and the Free Syrian Army have liberated 156 locations, including four town centers, 122 villages, 30 strategic areas, and one YPG/PKK base.

Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to remove YPG/PKK-Daesh terrorists from Afrin.

According to the Turkish General Staff, the operation aims to establish security and stability along Turkey’s borders and the region as well as protect Syrians people from terrorist oppression and cruelty.

The operation is being carried out under the framework of Turkey’s rights based on international law, UN Security Council resolutions, its self-defense rights under the UN charter, and respect for Syria's territorial integrity, it said.