As a result, Turkish forces "had to retreat from the territory of Afrin," the Syrian Kurds' representative in Moscow said. "Those areas to which they crossed, they left, as the Kurds struck and forced them to retreat," Osman said.

According to the representative, a total of 17 civilians have been killed and 28 injured as clashes and airstrikes are underway in Afrin, Sputnik reported.

Earlier in the day, he stated that 10 Turkish soldiers and about 20 related groups were killed during the fighting.

However, according to Anadolu news agency, the Armed Forces of Turkey, with the support of the Free Syrian Army, have established control over 11 positions taken from Kurdish forces during the day of the military operation in the Afrin enclave in northern Syria.

Using tanks and air support, the Turkish army has occupied the settlements of Shankal, Korne, Bali, Ada, Manli, the agricultural regions of Kit, Cordoba and Bibno, as well as four hills in the Afrin area.

The Turkish Operation in Africa in the north of Syria dubbed the "Olive Branch" began on Saturday with air raids and shelling. On Sunday, it moved to the ground phase with the use of tanks and other armored vehicles.

Reporter’s code: 50101