China News Service, June 13th. Comprehensive foreign media reported on the 12th that residential areas and hospitals in the northern Syrian town of Afrin were hit by artillery fire, causing 19 deaths and many injuries.

  According to Reuters, the local civil defense department reported that the first attack hit a residential area, and a hospital was hit by artillery fire shortly thereafter.

The report quoted the Turkish Ministry of Defense as saying that the attack had caused 13 deaths and 27 injuries.

  Turkish media TRT claimed that the attack has caused the death of at least 19 civilians, including patients and medical staff.

  The Turkish government believes that the attack was launched by PKK militants.

The "Syrian Democratic Army", which is mainly led by the Syrian Kurdish armed "People's Protection Force", issued a statement denying it.

Related investigations are still ongoing.

  On January 20, 2018, Turkey launched a military operation code-named "Operation Olive Branch" against the Kurdish armed "People's Protection Force" against the Afrin region of Syria.

On March 24 of the same year, the Turkish military announced that the Turkish army and the Syrian opposition armed "Free Syrian Army" supported by it had "completely controlled" the Afrin area.