“TAF [Turkish Armed Forces] and TAF-backed FSA take control of Afrin's Rajo town center during Operation Olive Branch, clashes continue,” tweeted the operation’s official account.
ANHA news agency, a media outlet close to the People’s Protection Units (YPG), reported on Saturday that there was heavy fighting in Rajo, Shera and Jandaris where 16 “mercenaries” were killed and two military vehicles destroyed.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported clashes between on Saturday Kurdish forces and the Turkish side on Friday night.
The Observatory did not report Turkish forces or their proxies were in control of Rajo, but that they retain control of Bulbul, gained two new villages, thus controlling 23 percent of the total villages in Afrin canton.
Turkish air forces “targeted a vehicle which was carrying civilians around Jandaris, resulting in the death of at least six civilians, and severely injuring others,” reported the Observatory adding that the number of civilians killed has increased 149.
Turkey has denied targeting civilians in Afrin and claimed that their care for civilians has slowed down their operation.
Turkey claimed on Saturday that they have “neutralized 2,434 terrorists” since January 20.
The UK-based Observatory declared the number of casualties from both sides in Afrin.
“307 Operation Olive Branch fighters killed, including 59 Turkish soldiers” and 272 YPG fighters killed, according to SOHR.
Turkish Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli said on Friday that 116 FSA fighters and 41 Turkish soldiers have died since January 20.
Mohammed Faraj commander of pro-Syrian government forces in Afrin declared on Friday 10 ten of their militants were killed and 8 were wounded as a result of Turkish airstrikes.
The UN Security Council passed a 30-day humanitarian ceasefire resolution last week. Kurdish groups also have called on the UN to apply a monitoring mechanism. The ceasefire does not apply to ISIS or al-Qaeda.
Turkey and its Free Syrian Army proxies launched the Operation Olive Branch on January 20.
