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On March 17, the Turkish Army General Staff announced in an official statement that the Turkish Army units reunited north of the city of Afrin effectively besieging the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) in the district of Ma’batle and large parts of the districts of Bulbul, Jandaris, Rajo and Shikh al-Hadid north and west of the city.
Local sources have not confirmed the Turkish Army General Staff’s claims yet. However, sources linked to the Free Syrian Army (FSA) reported that the Turkish Army and the FSA had captured the villages of Shrkan, Tattara, al-Amiryiah, Sheikh Ubasi, Jaqli Jum, Khaltan Kherbi, Ashqan Sharqi and Jatal Qabu northwest and west of Afrin.
The Turkish Army and its proxies also continued their advance around Afrin itself and captured the central prison west of the, city according to the sources.
Meanwhile, the Kurdish Hawar News Agency (ANHA) reported that airstrikes of the Turkish Air Force (TAF) on the city of Afrin had killed more than 47 civilians over the past 24 hours.
The YPG didn’t release any new report regarding the ongoing clashes in Afrin area on March 17. This may confirm that the Kurdish force is collapsing all around Afrin. The Turkish Army will likely be able to capture all the remaining villages west and north of Afrin in the near future.
