Turkey launches Afrin offensive with airstrikes

Turkish jets crossed the Turkey-Syria border and bombed observation posts held by Syrian Kurdish militia in the northwestern enclave of Afrin, Ahval reports with a reference to Turkey’s state-run news agency Anadolu.

Turkey-backed Syrian rebel forces from the Free Syrian Army (FSA) also begun entering the areas held by Syrian Kurdish militia, People’s Protection Units (YPG), it said.

Earlier today, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said “the Afrin operation has de facto begun in the field. Following this will come Manbij,” pointing to the northern Syrian province, which is also under the control of Syrian Kurdish militia.