Khalil Ashawi / Reuters
Seven Turkish military service memers died in clashes with Kurdish YPG/YPJ forces and a Turkish battle tank was destroyed in Syria’s Afrin on February 3, the Turkish General Staff said in a statement.
According to the Turkish version, five soldiers died in near the settlement of Sheikh Haruz northeast of the YPG-held city of Afrin when Kurdish forces targeted a battle tank of the Turkish Armed Forces.
One more soldier died in clashes with Kurdish forces in the Afrin area. Anorher one was killed in the Turkish border province of Kilis.
It’s interesting to note that Turkey continues arguing that Turkish forces fight some misterious ISIS terrorists in the Afrin area. However, for all neutral observers it’s clear that there is no ISIS in Afrin.
Following the incident, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim vowed revenenge and said that the enemies of the Turkish government “will pay for this twice as much. We have given the necessary response instantly, and we continue to do so.”
Turkey also intensified its airstrikes on Kurdish positions and ammo depots in the Afrin area.
