Turkish fire sends Iran-backed pro-Assad militias bound for Afrin packing

Iranian-backed pro-Assad militias were forced to retreat back to regime-controlled areas after their convoys were warned by Turkish artillery fire and combat drones 10 kilometers from Afrin, following an attempt to enter the northwestern city in a bid to rescue terrorists from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)’s Syrian offshoot, the PYD, as Turkey’s Operation Olive Branch rapidly advances.

During a live broadcast, Syrian State TV showed a 20-vehicle convoy laden with heavy machine guns entering Afrin from the Assad-controlled Shia villages of Nubbol and Zahraa with dozens of militia members waving Syrian regime flags and chanting in support of Assad.

The pro-Assad group, which calls itself “Popular Units,” attempted to cross to the northern town of al-Ziyara from the village of Nubbol, and was shelled as a warning by Turkish artillery and drones 10 kilometers from the Afrin city center, forcing it to retreat back to where it came from.

However, PKK terrorists, who are in a state of panic due to the rapid advancement by the Turkish Armed Forces, are said to be attempting to turn the conflict into a “sectarian” one, as they have been involved in talks with regime, with Russia’s knowledge, where they offered that Assad regime forces enter Afrin. This offer was said to be rejected by the regime, but was attempted yesterday by Iranian-backed groups.

The recent campaign aimed at forestalling the clearing of PKK terrorists from Afrin is thought to be aimed at testing Turkey’s resolve in the region.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin spoke over the phone yesterday, where the former warned of “consequences” if the Syrian regime continues on this path.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu addressed the issue by saying that “if the regime wants to enter to clear the YPG then there’s no problem, but if it was interfering to protect it, then no one can stop us.”

The Afrin-bound convoy that was bombed yesterday was comprised of Hezbollah and other Iranian-affiliated militias, and not the Syrian regime as it was falsely reported.

The PYD and its military YPG wing are Syrian branches of the PKK, which has waged war against Turkey for more than 30 years. The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States.

On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to clear PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin, northwestern Syria.

According to the Turkish General Staff, the operation aims to establish security and stability along Turkey’s borders and the region as well as to protect Syrians from terrorist 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, it said.

The military also said only terror targets were being destroyed and the "utmost care and sensitivity" were being used to not harm civilians.