Turkey says unclear whether Syrian regime forces will enter Afrin

Assad regime forces have yet to enter the Afrin region and it was unclear if they would, Turkey's foreign minister said on Tuesday.

Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu made the comment in an interview with broadcaster Kanal 24. Syrian state media said on Monday morning that pro-Assad militia would enter Afrin "within hours" but by sunset there were no signs of a deployment there.

Turkey has said it would confront Syrian regime forces if they entered the northwestern Afrin region to help the YPG terrorists.

Operation Olive Branch was initiated on Jan. 20 in Afrin to establish security and stability, eliminate terrorists of PKK/KCK/PYD-YPG and Daesh, and save locals from the terrorists’ oppression and cruelty.

The operation is being carried out under the framework of Turkey’s rights based on international law, UN Security Council resolutions, its self-defense rights under the UN charter, and respect for Syria's territorial integrity.

The military said it is putting the "utmost importance" on not harming any civilians.

Afrin has been a major hideout for the PYD/PKK since July 2012, when the Assad regime in Syria left the city to the terror group without putting up a fight.

Cross-border attacks by the PYD/PKK terror group in southern Turkey started as the Turkish army operation in Syria’s northwestern town of Afrin continues.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. The PKK has been conducting armed violence in the southeastern part of Turkey since 1984. More than 40,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the three-decade long conflict.