Turkish Army Sends Forces from Jerablus to Battlefields in Afrin

TEHRAN (defapress)- The Ankara-backed forces have been sent from Jerablus in Aleppo to Afrin as tensions and clashes intensified between the Turkish army and the Kurds in the region.

News ID: 68277

Date: 25 January 2018 - 17:15

Hawar news reported on Thursday that the Turkish army has evacuated the forces fighting within the framework of the Euphrates Shield and stationed in Jerablus in Northeastern Aleppo to Afrin after sustaining defeats against the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

It added that the checkpoints in and outside Jerablus have been evacuated from the so-called Police forces and several tanks have entered Afrin from the Turkish corridor of the town.

Military vehicles and ambulances were seen crossing the Turkish-Syrian border in Oncupinar, in both directions, during the ongoing operations against the Kurdish forces in Syria on Wednesday.

Turkish sources disclosed on Wednesday that the Turkish Army has temporarily halted the Olive Branch Operation to fortify newly-captured positions and later kick off fresh attacks on Kurds to go directly towards the Central part of Afrin region,.

The Turkish-language Yeni Safak daily quoted the sources as saying that military operations along the borderline with Hatay, Hasa, Kakhan Sakisli and Kilis has been halted to resume a fresh ground operation towards the town of Afrin after recent advances of the Ankara forces and allied militants against Kurds within the framework of the Olive Branch Operation in Northwestern Aleppo.

The daily further said that the Turkish troops have captured seven regions in clashes with the Kurds in Afrin, adding that the army forces are about to fortify their position in the seven newly-captured regions and later push towards the town of Afrin.

It added that the new strategy will prevent the Kurds from prevailing over the positions of the Ankara forces.