Turkish Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli said on Friday that 41 Turkish troops have been killed since the beginning of the Turkish assault on the Kurdish-controlled Afrin District in Syria.

Canikli added that 116 fighters from the Free Syrian Army (FSA) have also been killed during the military operation, code-named as Operation Olive Branch.

The minister estimated the number of killed YPG/PKK-Daesh during the operation at 2,295.

“Ninety-five residential areas on a 615 square-kilometer land and 28 critical positions have been taken under control,” he noted.

Turkey launched its military operation in Afrin on 20 January in order to “bring stability along its borders,” according to the Kuwait News Agency, and to defeat to Kurdish forces stationed there.

According to the Turkish General Staff, the operation aims to protect Syrians from terrorist oppression and cruelty.

However, Kurdish doctors claim that the Turkish forces have used chemical weapons in Afrin.

Turkey vehemently denies the claims.