Sinan Uslu & Durmus Genc
MUGLA: Two Turkish Armed Forces personnel were martyred when an attack helicopter crashed in northwestern Syria’s Afrin during the ongoing Operation Olive Branch Saturday, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said.
Talking to reporters in western Mugla province, Yildirim said: “Unfortunately, one of our two ATAK helicopters on a mission in Afrin region has crashed. Two heroic members of Turkish Armed Forces were martyred.”
Yildirim said it remains “unclear” why the helicopter went down and added that an investigation had been launched.
“We do not have any exact evidence and document regarding whether it was downed due to external intervention,” he said.
In a statement, Turkish General Staff said one of the ATAK helicopter crashed at around 1 p.m. (1000GMT) during ongoing operation in Afrin.
Turkey on Jan. 20 launched Operation Olive Branch to remove PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin.
According to Turkish General Staff, the operation aims to establish security and stability along Turkish borders and the region as well as to protect the Syrian people from the oppression and cruelty of terrorists.
The operation is being carried out under the framework of Turkey’s rights based on international law, UN Security Council’s decisions, self-defense rights under the UN charter and respect for Syria’s territorial integrity, it said.
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