The clashes that broke out yesterday evening in Afrin center city (43 km north of Aleppo) in northern Syria between Syrian groups loyal to Turkey. The clashes centered between Sultan Murad and Army of East and Martyrs East in Street Villas in Afrin center and spread to include several neighborhoods and center city, including wounded and killed, including civilians in conjunction with closure of schools.
The clashes between the factions spread to most of the city’s neighborhoods. Heavy weapons were used in the residential neighborhoods and the 57th artillery. More than ten mortar shells landed in the residential areas. Heavy explosions rocked the city as a result of violent clashes and mutual shelling.
The campaign coincided with curfew announcement in Afrin and Azaz cities and military alert of several factions roamed streets Afrin city mid firing of heavy bullets and cut all roads leading to Afrin city, where military factions imposed a siege on the entire city and separated neighborhoods in Hawazz where no less than 10 citizens were arrested. The campaign apparently targeted elimination of eastern martyrs faction and other factions that Turkey wants to solve in Afrin city.
The areas outside of regime control in northern and western Syria have been plagued by kidnappings and operations kidnapping demanding release of abducted families, in addition to violations committed by members of military factions against the families, medical personnel and humanitarian organizations and activists on various charges.
