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On March 14, the Turkish Army and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) captured the villages and towns of Kaz’e, Ma’arrata, Kuran, Sheikh al-Deir and al-Ghazzawiyah in the district of Jandaris west of the city of Afrin, according to sources linked to the FSA. Additionally, the Turkish Army advanced north of Afrin and captured the village of al-Yabisa in the Bulbul district.
The Kurdish Hawar News Agency (ANHA) reported that the Turkish Air Force (TAF) had stepped up its bombardment campaign against the People’s Protection Units (YPG) in the city of Afrin and in the center of the Ma’betla district northwest of it. At least 9 civilians were killed in the TAF bombardment, according to the ANHA.
Air attack targeting residental areas in #Afrin. pic.twitter.com/BRqlRvgajE
— Rojava Defense Units | YPG (@DefenseUnits) March 14, 2018
Meanwhile, the YPG press announced that YPG fighters had repelled a large attack by the Turkish Army and its proxies on their positions in the Sheikh al-Hadid district west of Afrin. The source claimed that YPG fighters had killed 62 Turkish Army soldiers and FSA fighters and had destroyed 5 vehicles of the Turkish Army in Sheikh al-Hadid.
In a related development, several Syrian pro-government activists revealed that the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) had begun deploying units of the 5th Corps at different parts of the Afrin area. Furthermore, Turkish activists confirmed that the SAA units had reached the village of Basute, only 7km south of Afrin.
The SAA deployment in Afrin area appears to be a result of an agreement between Turkey, Russia, the YPG and the Damascus government. However, this is yet to be confirmed by any side.
Photos show the FSA advance in the Jandaris district:
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