Turkish forces say Afrin surrounded

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – Turkish forces and allied Syrian rebels have surrounded the Kurdish city of Afrin in northwestern of Syria, Turkish army said on Tuesday in a statement.

The statement claimed that they had also captured “areas of critical importance” in the surrounding region of Afrin, and that "a total of 3,393 terrorists have been 'neutralized' since the start of the operation."

Turkish authorities routinely use the term 'neutralized' in their statements to mean enemy fighters either surrendered, killed, or captured.

According to the Kurdish Red Crescent, more than 230 civilians, including 35 children, have been killed, plus 688 more wounded.

There was no immediate confirmation from Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) fighters, who defend Afrin against the Turkish military operation.

Turkey launched its offensive against the YPG on Jan. 20 claiming that the Kurdish forces, which it argues are an offshoot of the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), represent a “terrorist” threat to its southern borders.

Editing by John J. Catherine