Erdogan: 109 ‘terrorists killed’ since Ankara launched offensive in Syria

Turkey’s Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, right, speaks on the phone alongside Chief of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces Gen. Yasar Guler in an operation room at army headquarters in Ankara, Turkey, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019. Turkey’s Defense Ministry says Turkish ground forces have moved across the border to fight against Kurdish fighters in northeastern Syria, hours after Turkish jet and artillery pounded areas in Syria’s northern border. (Turkish Defence Ministry via AP, Pool)

ANKARA, Turkey — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday that 109 “terrorists (have been) killed” since Ankara launched an offensive into Syria the previous day.

This came as Turkey’s state-run news agency said Turkey-allied Syrian opposition fighters have “cleared of terror” two villages across the border in Syria – meaning there are no more Syrian Kurdish fighters in those villages.

Anadolu Agency said also on Thursday the Turkish-backed fighters entered the villages of Yabisa and Tel Fander. It did not provide further details.

Maj. Youssef Hammoud, a spokesman for Turkey-backed Syrian rebels, tweeted that they were in Yabisa, near the town of Tal Abyad, describing it as “the first village to win freedom.”

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (Presidential Press Service via AP FILE, Pool)

Meanwhile, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Turkish commandos entered the village of Beir Asheq, near the town of Tal Abyad on Thursday morning.

Turkish forces began a ground offensive against Kurdish fighters in northern Syria on Wednesday under the cover of airstrikes and artillery shelling. /kga