Turkish Attack on Syrian Kurds 'Destabilizing'
It considers the YPG to be a "terrorist" group, as well as the Syrian offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged a bloody three-decade insurgency against the Turkish state. "Through its position ink Syria, Iran is in a stronger position to extend its track record of attacking US interests, allies, and personnel in the region".
The Turkish military also said the ongoing operation was carried out "with respect for Syria's territorial integrity" and in Turkey's rights under worldwide law.
Members of Free Syrian Army (FSA), backed by the Turkish army, are confronting US-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters, known as the People's Defence Units or YPG.
The battles had actually begun the night before but only with shells from Turkey against Kurdish forces under United States command.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has said a total of 22 Syrian civilians have been killed by Turkish strikes and two more by Kurdish fire during the operation. After Turkey reacted with outrage to USA plans, the Pentagon said it was not creating "a new "army" or conventional "border guard" force".
His remarks came amid Turkey's ongoing military operation against terror groups in the Afrin region.
France calls for a UN Security Council meeting and calls on Turkey to end its offensive.
The United States has told Turkey "let us see if we can work with you to create the kind of security zone you might need", Tillerson said, according to a reporter traveling with him to Paris.
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Given Washington's record, it is not especially surprising that both the Obama and Trump administrations have maintained close ties with Turkey, even as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has systematically dismantled his country's secular, democratic institutions.
The Kurdish militia says they will hold Russian Federation as well as Turkey responsible for the attacks.
Turkish state news agency Anadolu said ground forces had already seized 15 villages and other locations during their advance into Syria. Maybe because of the operation, Damascus will try to get closer to the YPG and even the US, but such a rapprochement will probably disturb Iran too much. Until then, the U.S.is going to maintain a troop presence in both Syria, but there seem to be indications that the USA presence in the region will be ongoing as well.
Another 19 fighters from the ranks of the pro-Ankara rebels who are fighting alongside Turkey were also killed, the monitoring group said, adding that nine more unidentified bodies were found on the battlefield.
It's not clear exactly how this posture on Syria evolved and who had leading roles constructing it.
If only! But until then, the news that the U.S.is indeed supporting a fearless Kurdish force in its ongoing fight against terror is an encouraging development.
Meanwhile, the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu insists that the claims of civilian casualties from the offensive were untrue.