afrin

Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Iran and Turkey have met in Astana one day after EP’s call on Turkey to withdraw from Afrin, and three weeks after UN’s call for ceasefire in Syria.

The European Parliament has approved the motion demanding that Turkey withdraw from Afrin. The motion has been approved by a majority vote with 371 votes in favor and 241 votes against.

Syrian sources have stated that the civilians residing in Afrin have headed towards the city center. Kurdish Red Cross has said that there are as many as 1 million civilians in the city.

March 8 International Women’s day was celebrated with thousands of women coming to Afrin from neighboring cantons. Following the march, the women chanted slogan “Long live women’s resistance”.

Eight soldiers have lost their lives and thirteen have been wounded in an armed conflict that broke out in the Kel Tepe region of rural Afrin's Hac Bilal village.

Spokesperson for the US-led coalition to fight ISIS, Colonel Ryan Dillon has said that, "the latest activities in Afrin have been a distraction". "This is concerning for the coalition," said Dillon and added, "We don't want independent operations."

The United Nations Security Council has voted for a month-long "humanitarian pause" in Syria. Authorities from Turkey say ceasefire decision will not affect Afrin operation.

YPG has announced they will keep with the UN Security Council’s “humanitarian pause” resolution throughout Syria. Speaking on the Afrin offensive, they have said that “the right to self-defense will be exercised”.

Reuters citing an eyewitness in the region has reported that Syrian government forces have entered the al-Halak, Bani Zaid and Bustan al-Basha neighborhoods in Aleppo.

İbrahim Kalın has stated that as one of three guarantor states, Turkey’s messages are conveyed to Damascus indirectly but not direct dialogue exists between the two regimes and added: “contact can be made to solve certain problems”.

President Erdoğan tackled the Afrin issue with Russia President Putin and Iran President Rouhani yesterday (February 19). The telephone calls were said to have emphasized the Astana process.

Citing Syrian state channel, Reuters has reported that Syrian army will arrive in Afrin in a few hours.

ETHA reporter Kayar, Ali Deniz Esen from the ESP, Sıtkı Güngör, Narin Duru, Boran Atıcı, Eren Bulut from the SGDF have been sent to prison.

US State Secretary Tillerson has answered that “We discussed a number of possible options, but we didn’t propose anything” a journalist asking whether the US proposed a safe zone.

Figen Yüksekdağ, Aysel Tuğluk, Çağlar Demirel, Burcu Çelik Özkan, Gülser Yıldırım, Gültan Kışanak, Nurhayat Altun, Edibe Şahin and Sebahat Tuncel have gone on hunger strike for three days in prisons where they are kept.

Criticizing the “Operation Olive Branch” launched into Afrin from Turkey on the social media, journalists Sibel Hürtaş, Hayri Demir, Seda Taşkın and director Fatih Kanat.

Four missiles launched from Syria hit Reyhanlı district in Hatay, killing one person and wounding 32 others. Another missile was fired on Kilis last night.

Concerning France calling the UN for an emergency meeting, Minister of Foreign Affairs Çavuşoğlu has said, “If France or any other country takes the matter to the UN, then it means that country sides with a terrorist organization in our eyes”.

Spokesperson for the US State Department Nauert has reiterated her statement that “We are not building a border force” and called for Turkey not to attack Afrin.

A few hours after Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Çavuşoğlu’s statement that campaign into Afrin won’t be delayed, Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said, “If Turkish jets launch an airstrike, Syria’s air defense systems are ready to destroy them”.