“The operation has actually started de facto with cross-border shelling, except there is no border crossing,” Canikli told broadcaster AHaber. “When I say ‘de facto’, I don’t want it to be misunderstood, it has begun without border crossings.”

“All terror networks and elements in northern Syria will be eliminated. There is no other way,” Canikli said.

According to Reuters the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia said Turkish forces fired around 70 shells at Kurdish villages in the Afrin region in a bombardment that began around midnight, describing it as the heaviest such attack since Turkey stepped up threats to take military action against the Kurdish region.

Reporter’s code: 50101