Known formally as Operation Olive Branch, the Turkish army and its Syrian rebel allies attacked the Afrin region in January 2018 and were able to establish full control over the canton by the end of March. Prior to Olive Branch, Afrin had been controlled by the People’s Protection Units (YPG), which is part of the SDF.

Since the occupation, numerous war crimes have been reported amid instability and endemic violence against women and ethnic and religious minorities.

Kobani said in a tweet that the continuous disregard for the protection of the people of Afrin from war crimes and occupation contradict the international laws recognized by the United Nations.

“Putting an end to those crimes is possible after the city is returned to its civilian state,” he said.

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