Erdogan says Turkey will attack Kurdish militants with tanks, soldiers
President Tayyip Erdogan has hinted at a possible ground attack against Kurdish militias in Syria after retaliatory attacks escalated along the Syrian border, saying Turkey would soon attack the militants with tanks and soldiers.
His comments came as Turkish artillery continued shelling Kurdish bases and other targets near the Syrian towns of Tal Rifaat and Kobani, two Syrian military sources said. . Reuters.
In a speech in northeastern Turkey, Erdogan said, “We have been fighting off terrorists with planes, artillery and guns for several days.” eradicate everything.”
He previously said the operations would not be limited to air operations and could involve ground forces. launched several major military campaigns.
On Tuesday, Turkey said the YPG had killed two people in a mortar attack from northern Syria. This followed a weekend of Turkish air operations against militias and his deadly bomb attack in Istanbul a week earlier.
The YPG-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said 15 civilians and militants were killed in recent Turkish attacks.
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has vowed to continue operations against militants and has told NATO ally Washington the Syrian government that Ankara calls a faction of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). He urged them to stop supporting Kurdish forces.
“We will tell all our partners, especially the United States, at all levels that the YPG is the equivalent of the PKK, and we will stick to our call to stop any kind of support for terrorists.”
A child and a teacher were killed and six others injured when a mortar bomb hit a border area in Turkey’s Gaziantep province on Tuesday. The military responded with jets attacking targets in Syria, a senior security official said.
stop escalation
A U.S. State Department spokesperson said Washington has conveyed serious concerns to Ankara about the impact of the escalation on its goals of fighting Islamic State.
“Just as we urged our partners in Syria to avoid attacks and escalations, we urged Turkey to oppose such operations,” the spokesman said in an emailed response to questions.
A spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Agency said: Reuters Against the backdrop of the US government’s opposition to any military action destabilizing the situation in Syria.
The US has allied itself with the YPG-led Self-Defense Forces in its fight against Islamic State in Syria, sparking a deep rift with Turkey.
Moscow, which is allied with Damascus, also called on Turkey to show restraint in using “excessive” military force in Syria and prevent tensions from escalating, Russian news agencies said. quoted the statement.
During an official visit to Turkey on Tuesday, German Interior Minister Nancy Feser told journalists that Berlin was firmly on the side of Ankara when it came to fighting terrorism, but the reaction should be rational. I warned you.
“We support Turkey in its investigation of this terrorist attack and its fight against terrorism…but the reaction should be reasonable and in accordance with the rights of the people, without harming civilians.” I don’t think so.”
Turkey said fighter jets destroyed 89 targets in Syria and Iraq on Monday, and 184 militants were killed in operations targeting the YPG and PKK on Monday and Tuesday.
Ankara said the weekend operation was in retaliation for a bomb attack that killed six people in Istanbul last week and authorities blamed militants.No one has claimed responsibility and the PKK and SDF have denied involvement. there is
The bombings have evoked memories of the violence ahead of the tense 2015 elections and could lead to another security-focused campaign for Erdogan ahead of next June’s tense elections.
An SDF spokesman said 11 civilians, SDF fighters and two guards were killed in the weekend’s Turkish attacks.
Fighting between the PKK and the Turkish state that began in 1984 has killed more than 40,000 people. Turkey, the United States and the European Union have designated the PKK as a terrorist group.
– Reuters
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/479346/erdogan-says-turkey-to-attack-kurdish-militants-with-tanks-soldiers Erdogan says Turkey will attack Kurdish militants with tanks, soldiers