Turkish forces are seen near Mount Barsaya, northeast of Afrin, Syria January 23, 2018. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi
The Turkish military has falsely claimed that ISIS is present in the Afrin in its statement on January 23. Accordign to the statement, forces involved in Turkey’s Operation Olive Branch contact ISIS [Daesh] in the area.
The country’s state-run news agency Anadolu (source):
At least 260 PKK/KCK/PYD-YPG and Daesh terrorists have been neutralized since the beginning of Operation Olive Branch in Syria, Turkish General Staff said Tuesday.
In a statement, the military said Turkey carried out this operation under international law and Article 51 of the UN Charter and respecting Syrian territorial integrity.
It added the operation targets terrorists and their shelters, positions, arms and equipment. Precautions were being taken to prevent civilians and innocents from being harmed in the operation.
The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces [YPG/PYD – core of the force] also noted this fact publicly on January 24.
“The whole world knows Daesh (Islamic State) is not present in Afrin,” Redur Xelil, a senior SDF official, told Reuters.
He added that the Turkish military exaggerated the YPG casualties. However, Xelil declined to say the “real” number. He continued with a claim that YPG forces killed tens of Turkish fighters and allied Free Syrian Army fighters.
