Eight Soldiers Lose Their Lives in Afrin Offensive

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Eight soldiers lost their lives and thirteen soldiers were wounded in an armed conflict that broke out on the 40th day of the Turkish Armed Forces' (TSK) "Operation Olive Branch" into Afrin.

Forty-two soldiers have lost their lives in the Afrin offensive so far.

According to Doğan News Agency (DHA), the conflict took place in the Kel Tepe region of rural Afrin's Hac Bilal village, across from Hatay province's Hassa district.

Anadolu Agency (AA) reported that the General Staff has issued a condolence message.

President Tayyip Erdoğan telephoned Chief of General Staff General Hulusi Akar and Minister of the Interior Süleyman Soylu to receive information about the conflict.

Six of the soldiers who lost their lives were identified in DHA's news piece:

Gendermerie Noncommissioned officer Uğur Palancı (28)

Registered to Mardin's Artuklu district. Middle sibling of three. Unmarried.

Sergeant Major Arif Demirel (24)

Registered to Kastamonu's Dibek district. Has two siblings. Engaged. Was to get married on August 30, 2018.

Gendermerie Sergeant Major Burhan Açıkkol (24)

Registered to Isparta. Has three siblings. Unmarried.

Staff Sergeant Abdullah Taha Koç (23)

Registered to Konya's Selçuklu district. It was his birthday yesterday. Started sergeancy in 2015. Unmarried.

Gendarmerie Sergeant Major Recep Çetin

Registered to Eskişehir. Married, has a daughter of one and a half months.

Gendarmerie Specialist Corporal Rıdvan Çevik (26)

Registered to Van Erciş. Has three siblings. Engaged. (EKN/PU)