Turkish soldier martyred in Syria’s Afrin region

A Turkish soldier was martyred in a mortar attack by PYD-YPG/PKK/KCK and Daesh terrorists in Syria’s northwestern Afrin region, according to a military statement on Monday.

The Turkish General Staff in a statement said that the soldier was martyred in Afrin’s Kuri Hill region. Turkish Armed Forces responded to the attack immediately, it added.

Also, a Turkish citizen succumbed to his wounds on Monday following a terror attack targeting a convoy in the north of Idlib province on Jan. 30.

Mahmut Pakyurek was being treated at Gulhane Training and Research Hospital in Ankara, according to a statement from the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs.

Pakyurek, an employee at State Hydraulic Works, was in the region to operate a trailer being used in the ongoing operation in northern Syria.

Yasin Tanboga, another employee at State Hydraulic Works, was also martyred in the same attack.

Turkey on Jan 20. launched Operation Olive Branch to remove PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin.

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 has also said that only terrorist targets are being destroyed and "utmost importance" is being put on avoiding harming 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 a fight.