Turkish jets hit Afrin, "Olive Branch" operation begins

The Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim stated that the country's warplanes have bombed YPG, PYD targets in the Syrian city of Afrin, Mehr news agency reports. Explosions heard from Afrin after Turkish jets cross Turkey-Syria border, reported Anadolu.

The start of the advance has been confirmed by the country's Armed Forces, which declared that the "Olive Branch" operation has been launched at 05:00 p.m. local time (02:00 p.m. GMT).

According to the Turkish Hurriyet newspaper, the country's F-16 jets have conducted the strikes on six targets in Afrin, adding that simultaneously the Turkish armed forces have launched the artillery shelling from the Kilis province, bordering Syria.