Turkey's Erdogan Says Kurdish-held Afrin 'will Fall This Evening'

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stated he believes that the Kurdish-held city of Afrin in northern Syria will fall into Turkish hands by this evening.

Turkey stated that it troops and allied Syrian fighters had encircled Afrin, a city in the enclave of the same name where some 350,000 civilians remain, as of yesterday, following a seven-week military operation.

President Erdogan said civilians in Afrin town were being evacuated in cars through a special corridor, but residents and local officials claim those trying to leave Afrin have come under fire.

Fleeing: Syrian civilians fleeing Afrin after Turkey stated its army and allied rebels surrounded the Kurdish city in northern Syria, pass through the village of Anab northwest of the city

Little safetyL Turkey';s President Erdogan stated civilians in Afrin are being evacuated through a special corridor, but residents claim those trying to leave have come under fire

Invasion: A member of Free Syrian Army, backed by Turkish Armed Forces is seen as he stands guard at Rajos town center near Afrin town in Afrin

Turkey launched its assault on the border enclave on January 20 to drive out Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), forces which Ankara views as 'terrorists' linked to Kurdish rebel groups fighting in Turkey.

'We have got a little bit closer to Afrin. I hope that Afrin will, God willing, have completely fallen by the evening.' Erdogan told supporters in a speech in Ankara on Wednesday.

A passage out of Afrin remained partially open, and thousands of people have reportedly fled the town, heading toward nearby areas controlled by the Syrian government.

Syria's Al-Ikhbariya TV showed cars, trucks and tractors loaded with civilians driving out of the town.

But civilians and Kurdish officials say that those who have tried to flee the city has come under fire and have been forced to turn back, leaving hundreds of thousands of people trapped.

Invader: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated he hoped that Afrin would fall into Turkish hands by Wednesday evening

War in Syria: Turkey, backed by Syrian rebel troops, are fighting Kurdish forces in Afrin, while the Syrian government are trying to take back control of Ghoutawhich is held by rebels

Members of Free Syrian Army, backed by Turkish Armed Forces are seen as they stand guard at Rajos town center  during the Operation Olive Branch in Syrias northwestern Afrin region

The city of Afrin has not had any water for a week, after Turkish forces seized control of the local dam, and residents say they have relied on wells for their consumption.

Azad Mohamed, a 32-year old resident, stated his relatives were fired upon as they tried to escape Monday, forcing them to turn back.

He stated he can't decide whether to risk the journey out of Afrin with his two children or to remain in place.

'Most of the time, I swear, I am acting like a mad man. When I sit down for two minutes, I get up again and start pacing to ease the tension,' he told The Associated Press in a series of text messages.

The city of Afrin has not had any water for a week, after Turkish forces seized control of the local dam, and residents say they have relied on wells for their consumption

Syrian civilians fleeing Afrin after Turkey stated its army and allied rebels surrounded the Kurdish city in northern Syria, pass through the village of Anab northwest of the city

'Every time I remember they (Turkish forces) are closer, I think of my wife and kids and parents. I am afraid and I feel like there is a volcano in my belly.'

Col. Moataz Raslan, commander of one of the Turkey-allied opposition groups, stated the Kurdish fighters in Afrin should surrender or leave the area.

He stated it was the Kurdish fighters who were preventing civilians from leaving and firing on those who do.

But Mohamed stated most of the Kurdish fighters come from the area and would never give up their hometown. 'Their families will never forgive them if they leave,' he said.

A top Syrian Kurdish official, Fawza Yousef, described intense Turkish shelling of the town and stated Turkish forces were expected to 'invade' soon.