*ANKARA:* Eight Turkish soldiers have been killed and a further 13 woundedin an attack by Kurdish fighters in the North-Western Syrian enclave ofAfrin on Thursday, announced the Turkish Army.

The attack reportedly happened in the Keltepe district as Kurdish fightersambushed Turkish special forces by emerging from a tunnel, and a rescuehelicopter sent to evacuate the wounded had to return after it was hit aswell, reported a private news media outlet in Turkey. No official detailsof the latest clash have been given.

Turkey launched an offensive into Afrin in January 2018 againstthe People’s Protection Units (YPG) which it considers a militant arm ofthe Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). PKK has fought for independence inSouth-Eastern Turkey since 1978 but the YPG has denied any links to thegroup.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says that close to 150 civilianshave been killed since the start of Turkish offensive, though Turkeyhas disputed such claims. – Agencies