Free Syrian Army groups have advanced deeper into Afrin in northern rural Aleppo following fierce clashes with the PYD militia, capturing strategic positions in the region.
Captain Abu Jalal, commander of the Ninth Division of the Syrian National Army, told Baladi News Network that they captured the village of Qastal Jandu and Barsaya Mountain following violent clashes with the PYD militias on Sunday.
Abu Jalal pointed out that the Turkish air force supports the FSA fighters in their battles against the terrorist PYD militias, stressing that the Turkish aerial support had significant impact on the course of the fighting.
The FSA groups on Sunday morning took control of Qizqli Mountain overlooking the town of Jandairis in rural Afrin north of Aleppo.
The FSA commander stressed that the shelling exclusively targets the PYD positions, pointing out that the FSA groups are taking all precautions to spare civilians the military operations.
The Syrian Coalition earlier expressed its support for the operation being launched with the participation of the Syrian National Army, which incorporates armed groups of the Syrian revolution under the supervision of the Syrian Interim Government, with the aim of freeing a number of towns and villages of the Syrian north from the control of terrorist forces in coordination with Turkey and with support from Turkish air force.
The Coalition said that the “PKK terrorist group and the front organizations it uses, including the Democratic Unionist Party (PYD), the People’s Protection Units (YPG) and the repressive security agencies, are terrorist organizations. They have been carrying out repressive practices against the Syrian people from all affiliations and ethnicities. They imprison many Kurdish activists in particular, while hundred others died under torture in their prisons or in direct attacks targeting them.” (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
