18 March 2018•Update: 19 March 2018
By Anadolu Agency staff
ANKARA
After the Turkish military and Free Syrian Army liberated the Afrin town center from YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists on Sunday, fresh aerial footage showed that the civilians and buildings there remained unharmed.
However, during a U.S.-backed operation in Syria's Raqqah, more than 2,000 civilians had been killed and the city center was turned into ruins when the YPG/PKK cleared the area from Daesh.
On Oct. 17, 2017, the YPG/PKK backed by the U.S. forces cleared Daesh terrorists from Raqqah. The footage filmed by Anadolu Agency’s correspondent displayed the whole of Raqqah was turned into ruins.
A group of activists -- named Raqqah is Being Slaughtered Silently -- reported on Oct. 17, 90 percent of the city was demolished.
On Dec. 14, 2017, Syrian Network for Human Rights said in a report that 2,371 civilians -- including 562 children -- were killed during the operation and around 450,000 civilians were left displaced.
The YPG/PKK terrorists began looting the city after taking the control. They also blocked the entrance of civilians, who had fled the clashes and wanted to return to the city.
Normalcy returns to Afrin
Turkish Armed Forces and Free Syrian Army (FSA) have shown maximum sensitivity for the safety of civilians during the Operation Olive Branch, which was launched on Jan. 20 to clear the area of YPG/PKK-Daesh terrorists.
The footages filmed by the Anadolu Agency and the Turkish army’s drones revealed that the buildings in Afrin’s city center remained undamaged.
The footages also showed that life has returned to normalcy and civilians can be seen on the streets.
Some of the vehicles and buildings in the city center were damaged by the terrorist group in a bid to give an impression that the Turkish military has targeted civilians.
According to the Turkish General Staff, the Operation Olive Branch aims to establish security and stability along Turkey's borders and the region as well as protect Syrians from terrorist cruelty and oppression.
The operation is being carried out under the framework of Turkey’s rights based on international law, UN Security Council resolutions, its self-defense rights under the UN charter, and respect for Syria's territorial integrity, it said.
The military has also said that only terrorist targets are being destroyed and "utmost care" is being taken to avoid harming any civilians.
Afrin has been a major hideout for the PYD/PKK since July 2012, when the Assad regime in Syria left the city to the terror group without a fight.
