ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — At least two explosions rocked downtown Afrin city on Wednesday, killing three and wounding several more.
Local sources told Rudaw three people were killed and several others wounded by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED).
Media close to the opposition, Orient News, confirmed the explosion near the statue and the second near a military police office. They reported six killed and 20 injured, including a family member of the military police.
Afrin, located in northwest Syria, had been under the control of the mostly-Kurdish Peoples' Protection Units (YPG) until a two-month offensive by the Turkish army and their Free Syrian Army proxies from January until March.
Two explosions occurred at Kawa Square in front of al-Jabha al-Shamia headquarters: the first one because of a booby-trapped car and the second due to an explosive belt. A third explosion took place in front of Dersim Hospital where there are many wounded victims, Afrin Activists Network reported.
Local sources told Rudaw three people were killed and several others wounded by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED).
Video obtained by Rudaw from Afrin shows the aftermath an explosion on June 27, 2018.
ANHA, media based in Syrian Kurdistan, reported 20 killed, including Turkish proxy fighters and civilians. The agency added that a white van was used to carry the explosive device.
The square is where a statue of Kawa the Blacksmith once stood before being torn down during Turkey's Operation Olive Branch.
Al-Jabha al-Shamia is a militia backed by Turkey in opposition to the regime of Bashar al-Assad.
Tensions were reported in the city between the al-Mutasim and al-Jabha al-Shamia brigades by the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights on Wednesday.
The Observatory reported at least one member of the factions was killed and about 10 were injured.
Afrin, located in northwest Syria, had been under the control of the mostly-Kurdish Peoples' Protection Units (YPG) until a two-month offensive by the Turkish army and their Free Syrian Army proxies from January until March.
The political arm of the YPG claimed their canton had been safe and stable throughout the Syrian conflict.
Seven years and more, Afran was safe and stable when she was run by her family
— pyd rojava (@PYD_Rojava) June 27, 2018
There was not one explosion
Today, two major explosions occurred in Kawa mourning square
Every day, fighting, kidnapping, kidnapping, torture, killing, destruction and security violations.
Updated at 3:58 p.m.
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