Eleven Turkish soldiers were killed on Saturday, including two military personnel when a helicopter was downed, in the bloodiest day in Ankara's offensive in northern Syria, bringing to twenty-nine the number killed so far in the incursion.
The Turkish military said in a statement that two soldiers were killed when its helicopter crashed and was destroyed.
The army later said nine more soldiers were killed in separate incidents but did not give details. Another 11 soldiers were injured the army added.
Turkish army officially declared on January 20 the launch of an offensive targeting the positions of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and People's Protection Units (YPG) in Afrin region in northwest Syria. The Turkish AKP government's excuse was the threat against national interests and border security.
The operation has been conducted jointly with the Free Syrian Army (FSA) terrorist group.
Mustefa Bali, a spokesman for the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces dominated by the Kurdish YPG militant and jihadist groups, said on Twitter that a helicopter had been hit in the Rajo area of northwest Afrin, near the Turkish border.
But the state-run news agency Anadolu said the incident happened in the southern border province of Hatay, with the private Dogan news agency saying authorities were trying to reach the wreckage in the Kırıkhan district.
