Two Turkish pilots die in Syria crash

Ankara [Turkey], Feb 10 (ANI): Two Turkish Army pilots were killed when their helicopter crashed during the Operation Olive Branch in Syria's Afrin region on Saturday.

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the Turkish Army's one of the two ATAK helicopters on a mission in Afrin had crashed, Anadolu news agency reported.

Yildirim said it remained "unclear" why the helicopter went down, adding that an investigation had been launched.

"We do not have any exact evidence and document regarding whether (or not) it was downed due to external intervention," he said.

Turkey on January 20 launched Operation Olive Branch to remove Partiya Yekitiya Demokrat/Kurdistan Workers' Party and the Islamic State from Afrin.

According to Turkish Army, the operation aims to establish security and stability along Turkish borders and to protect the Syrian people from the oppression and cruelty of terrorists.

Afrin has been a major hideout for the PYD/PKK since July 2012 when the Syrian Army left the city to the IS.(ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI