Following at least two days of heavy bombardment and shelling, Turkish forces and their Syrian rebel allies have begun the ground phase of their invasion into the northern Syrian region of Afrin -- dubbed Operation Olive Branch. The advance against the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) that control the region has so far been slow but methodical, inhibited by the area's difficult and mountainous terrain. Nevertheless, as of Jan. 22, Turkey and its allies have already seized a number of strategic hilltops, mountain peaks and villages....
