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In pictures: 3,500 Rojava fighters graduate, ready to defend Afrin
Thousands of Arab and Kurdish fighters of the Civil Defence Forces of Syrian Kurdistan, or Rojava, graduated in a ceremony after completing their military training in Qamishli.
The force that is under the command of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is prepared to fight against the Turkish offensive in Afrin, northwestern Syria, a commander said.
"Today, there are 3,500 fighters who joined our forces after completing their training on military and political life. All of them are ready to go to Afrin and to protect all of northern Syria," Siamand Wallat, commander of Civil Defense Forces in northern Syria, said on Thursday.
Some of the fighters had olive branches attached to their uniforms, a symbol of Afrin’s olive groves that have been under Turkish attack for more than 40 days.
Photos: AFP/ Delil Souleiman
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In pictures: 3,500 Rojava fighters graduate, ready to defend Afrin
In pictures: 3,500 Rojava fighters graduate, ready to defend Afrin
In pictures: 3,500 Rojava fighters graduate, ready to defend Afrin
In pictures: 3,500 Rojava fighters graduate, ready to defend Afrin
In pictures: 3,500 Rojava fighters graduate, ready to defend Afrin
In pictures: 3,500 Rojava fighters graduate, ready to defend Afrin
In pictures: 3,500 Rojava fighters graduate, ready to defend Afrin
In pictures: 3,500 Rojava fighters graduate, ready to defend Afrin
In pictures: 3,500 Rojava fighters graduate, ready to defend Afrin
In pictures: 3,500 Rojava fighters graduate, ready to defend Afrin
In pictures: 3,500 Rojava fighters graduate, ready to defend Afrin
In pictures: 3,500 Rojava fighters graduate, ready to defend Afrin