The Turkish General Staff said in a statement on Feb. 18 that a total of 1,614 militants have been “neutralized” since the start of “Operation Olive Branch” in the northwestern Syrian district of Afrin, Hurriyet Daily News reports.
The Turkish authorities use the word “neutralized” in their statements to imply that the militants in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.
In addition, a total of 674 “terrorist targets” have been destroyed in air strikes since the start of the operation, the military stated.
It also stressed that the operation is being carried out under the framework of Turkey’s rights based on international law, U.N. Security Council resolutions, its self-defense rights under the U.N. charter, and with respect for Syria’s territorial integrity.
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