Turkey's Erdoğan says Afrin city centre under 'total' control

Turkey's president says allied Syrian forces have taken control of the town center of Afrin, the target of a nearly two-month offensive against the YPG/PKK terror group.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan says the Syrian fighters, supported by Turkish armed forces, seized control of the town center early Sunday. He says many of the YPG/PKK terrorists have fled.
"Units of the Free Syrian Army, which are backed by Turkish armed forces, took control of the centre of Afrin this morning at 8:30 am (0530 GMT)," Erdoğan said, adding that de-mining operations were under way.

News of Afrin's capture was also confirmed by the Turkish military, which released a statement saying the city centre was "under control".
"Search operations to locate mines and other explosives are under way," it said.

"Now the Turkish flag will fly over there! The flag of the Free Syrian Army will fly over there!" said Erdoğan who was speaking at a ceremony marking the battle to open the Dardanelles during World War I.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the Turkey-backed forces have taken control of half the town.

Turkey views the YPG in the Afrin enclave along the border as terrorists because of their links to the PKK terror group that has waged a terror campaign against Turkish state for more than three decades.

Turkish troops along with Syrian opposition fighters launched a cross-border offensive on Jan. 20.