Turkish-backed Syrian rebels have taken "total" control of the centre of Afrin, a Kurdish-majority city in northern Syria, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday, thenational.ae reports.
"Units of the Free Syrian Army, which are backed by Turkish armed forces, took control of the centre of Afrin this morning at 8.30am," Mr Erdogan said, adding that de-mining operations were under way.
"Now the Turkish flag will fly over there! The flag of the Free Syrian Army will fly over there!" said Mr Erdogan who was speaking at a ceremony marking the battle to open the Dardanelles during World War I.