Turkish military dismisses reports of Afrin hospital shelling as fake, releases drone footage

The Turkish military released footage of an undamaged Afrin hospital building on Saturday, refuting a smear campaign by YPG/PKK-Daesh terrorists.

The one-minute video that was shot at 9.43 a.m. local time (0643GMT) on Saturday shows the hospital building is in good shape.

Recently, YPG/PKK-Daesh terrorists as part of their smear campaign against Turkey, claimed the hospital was hit by the Turkish army.

A statement by the Turkish Armed Forces followed the release of the video.

"It is closely being monitored that vile propaganda against the Turkish Armed Forces is being spread, falsely claiming that buildings and vehicles were set ablaze by the Turkish military. In reality, it was being carried out by terrorists in Afrin city centre," the statement said.

Several photos taken by Turkish army at 9.50 a.m. local time (GMT0650), also prove that the hospital was not attacked.

Turkish drones captured footage of YPG/PKK terrorists setting vehicles and buildings ablaze at various locations in Afrin.

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 protect Syrians from terrorist cruelty and oppression.

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 care" is being taken to avoid 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 a fight.