The offensive is directed against kurdish forces that previously defeated ISIS in the Syrian village of Um Al Hosh, in the area of Afrin 
Sugedigi, Turkey. Jan.20.– President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that Turkey had “de-facto” launched a new operation on the ground to oust Kurdish militia from a northern Syrian enclave, defying US warnings that the action risked destabilising the area.
Turkey has in recent days sent dozens of military vehicles to the border area and readied pro-Ankara Syria rebels amid repeated threats from top officials the operation on the town of Afrin was imminent.
The Turkish army has over the last two days shelled camps and refuges used by the People’s Protection Units (YPG) militia in response to fire from the militia group, which Turkey deems to be a terror organisation.
“The Afrin operation has de-facto been started on the ground,” Erdogan said in a televised speech in the city of Kutahya, without elaborating.
“This will be followed by Manbij,” he added, referring to another Kurdish-controlled Syrian town to the east ...
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