In retaliatory actions against the occupation of Afrin, 621 members of the Turkish army and jihadist militias were killed last year in northwest Syria, according to the balance sheet of Afrin Liberation Forces (Hêzên Rizgariya Efrînê, HRE) for the year 2019.

HRE was founded in 2018 after the occupation of Afrin by Turkey. With the aim of liberating the region from the occupying forces, a total of 252 armed actions have been carried out in Afrin and the neighbouring areas of Shehba, al-Bab, Azaz and Mare, according to the balance sheet published today. The 621 dead include 486 jihadists and 135 members of the Turkish military or the secret service MIT. Another 455 occupiers were injured in the HRE operations. At least 20 of the dead and injured belonged to the command level of the occupying forces.

The HRE captured numerous weapons during their actions, including eight grenade launchers. Bulletproof vests, binoculars, communication equipment and documents were also seized. In the entire year, 55 vehicles such as tanks, armored vehicles and motorcycles were destroyed.

A total of nine members of HRE fell as martyrs in the attacks of the occupying forces.

HRE reported that the Turkish army and allied mercenaries also attacked the areas of Shehba and Til Rifat where displaced people from Afrin were settled. Accordingly, at least 120 mortar attacks and ground attacks targeted these areas, causing huge material damage for the civilian population.