22 March 2018•Update: 22 March 2018
ANKARA
The Turkish Armed Forces found an explosive hidden inside a Quran by YPG/PKK terrorists in Afrin, northwestern Syria, security sources said on Thursday.
An explosive hidden inside a copy of the Muslim holy book hanging on a wall was found in a house during security sweeps in the village of Shaykh Ubasi, in northwestern Afrin, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.
The sources also said security forces detonated the explosive safely with no loss of life.
The misuse of a holy book to hide explosives follows similar incidents, including a March 14 attack that martyred a Turkish soldier.
After that attack, security sources said foreign intelligence services trained terrorists on how to prepare explosives.
The sources added the terrorists use similar methods to hide explosives in Turkey’s southeastern Diyarbakir, Sirnak, Hakkari, and Mardin provinces, areas known for attacks by the PKK, the YPG/PKK’s parent terror group.
Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch on Jan. 20 to clear terrorist groups from Afrin in northwestern Syria amid growing threats from the region.
On Sunday, Turkish-backed troops liberated the town center of Afrin, which had been a major hideout for the YPG/PKK since 2012.
According to the Turkish General Staff, Operation Olive Branch aims at establishing security and stability along Turkey's borders and the region as well as protecting Syrians from terrorist cruelty and oppression.
The operation is being carried out under the framework of Turkey’s rights based on international law, UN Security Council resolutions, its self-defense rights under the UN charter, and respect for Syria's territorial integrity, it said.
The military has also said that only terrorist targets are being destroyed and the "utmost care" is being taken to avoid harming any civilians.
Reporting by Sinan Uslu:Writing by Faruk Zorlu
