March 21, 2018•Update: March 22, 2018
ANKARA
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that 3,698 terrorists have been "neutralized" in Syria's Afrin since the start of Operation Olive Branch.
Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.
Speaking at a ceremony at the presidential complex, Erdogan said: "Afrin's town center has been taken under control. We are now renovating schools and hospitals."
He added that Turkey will restore peace in Afrin soon.
Separately, Erdogan said 38 PKK terrorists were neutralized in the Iraqi city of Sinjar.
He added that counter-terror operations will not stop until threats along Turkey's borders are not completely eliminated.
Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch on Jan. 20 to clear terrorist groups from Afrin in northwestern Syria amid growing threats from the region.
Last Sunday, Turkish-backed troops liberated the town center of Afrin, which had been a major hideout for the YPG/PKK since 2012.
According to the Turkish General Staff, Operation Olive Branch has aimed at establishing security and stability along Turkey's borders and the region as well as protecting Syrians from terrorist cruelty and oppression.
