The Olive Branch operations room on Wednesday issued a statement announcing that the Free Syrian Army groups took full control of the entire border region between the isolated canton and Turkey.
“The Free Syrian Army opened the road between Rajo and Jandairis sub-districts of Afrin district and killed 27 PYD militants,” said the FSA in a statement.
Baladi News Network quoted spokesman for the Syrian National Army Lt. Colonel Mohamed Hammadin as saying that the FSA fighters were now combing the hills that were still under the control of the PYD militias. He noted that the reason for the delay in opening the road between northern rural Aleppo and Idlib province is the rugged terrain as well as the presence of PYD militants in small pockets and their use of tunnels to move around in the mountainous region.
Hammadin pointed out that once the road between northern rural Aleppo and rural Idlib has been secured, it will solve many of the problems civilians in both areas are facing in addition to allowing the movement of goods.
Operation Olive Branch is aimed at ousting the PYD militias from Afrin area as well as enabling thousands of civilians who were forced out from their homes by the PYD militias to return to their villages and towns. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
