12 Soldiers Lose Their Lives in 2 Days During Afrin Operation

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In total 12 soldiers lost their lives on February 10-11 during the offensive called "Operation Olive Branch" launched by the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) and Free Syrian Army (FSA) into Afrin, northwestern Syria.

A helicopter crashed

Doğan News Agency reported that Pilot Captain Mehmet İlker Karaman and Pilot Lieutenant Erdem Mut lost their lives in the helicopter that crashed across Kırıkhan district in Hatay on February 10. The TAF announced that the helicopter was "slightly damaged".

Statement on February 10

In its second statement, the TAF announced that three soldiers lost their lives, five others were wounded during the Afrin operation. Shortly after, another announcement came informing that two more soldiers lost their lives and four soldiers were wounded.

In the fourth statement issued at midnight, it was stated that two soldiers were wounded and four soldiers, namely Infantry Noncommissioned Officer Hasan Kuş and sergeant majors Oğuzcan Ekiz, Enes Sarıaslan, Halis Koca, Burak Akalın, Serdar Ege, Hüseyin Şahin, Koray Karaca and Specialist Corporal Hamza Karacaoğlu lost their lives during the operation.

Statement on February 11

Another statement was issued by the TAF yesterday (February 11) informing that another soldier lost his life. Rank and name of the soldier wasn't declared to the public. (TP/TK)