At 12:45 am on Wednesday, two explosions took place in the centre of Afrin near the square with the statue of Kawa the Blacksmith.

It is understood the explosion is to attach to the Jabhat al-Shamiya mercenary group. 

The explosions resulted in the death of several mercenaries and damages to buildings.

Apart from the two explosions, another explosion occurred near Dersim Hospital. The explosion appeared to have left at least 20 dead.

The invading Turkish army and mercenaries increased their patrols in the city center after the explosions. They closed many roads and set up checkpoints.

Sources in Afrin told ANHA that the situation is one the Turkish state is trying to hide.

Many sources actually believed that those who carried out the explosions were in fact Turkish soldiers and that these attacks aim at strengthening the claim that the Turkish state is actually there to provide safety.

It is reported that among the casualties were not only mercenaries but also civilians, some of them children.

According to the information obtained from the military hospital in the village of Kefer Shil on the Rajo-Afrin road; the bodies of seven dead mercenaries were taken to the hospital together with five wounded patients. Hospital sources say the number of mercenaries’ dead is over twenty.

The body of one mercenary, together with three bodies of civilians were taken to Salam hospital. Likewise 17 wounded civilians and 19 mercenaries were also admitted to Salam Hospital.

A.E., a citizen of Afrin, stated that the situation was very confused because of the dead and the wounded in Afrin and added that “the mercenaries are everywhere in the streets, the shops and markets are closed.”

E. H. said that in fact shops and markets belonging to the citizens of Afrin are closed, whereas shops where foreigners have been installed are opened.

On the other hand, it was learned that the first explosion appeared to have happened where two mercenary groups, Jabhat al-Shamiya and Mustesem Billah Brigades, were fighting among themselves.