Turkish forces shelled areas under the control of Kurdish forces in northern Aleppo, the Syrian Observatory reported on Friday. Turkish military announced in its official website that 23 “terrorists” who were harassing Turkish-controlled territories in Syria have been eliminated. Turkish press reported on Friday that preparations for a military campaign to push back Syrian Kurdish military-political entity PYD/YPG 30 miles away from the border are 90%.
In Aleppo, the shelling has reportedly impacted the areas of Samouqa, Hasaka, and Dam al-Shahba.
No information is currently available on the casualties, the report said.
Turkey’s current and future military operations on its southern borders do not target its neighbors’ sovereignty but are necessary for Turkish security, the country’s National Security Council (MGK) said on Thursday, according to Reuters.
The MGK statement followed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s declaration on Monday that Ankara would soon launch new military operations on its southern borders to expand 30-kilometer (20-mile) deep safe zones and combat what he described as terrorist threats there.
“Operations being carried out now and in the future to remove the terrorism threat on our southern borders do not target our neighbors’ territorial integrity and sovereignty in any way,” it said after a three-hour meeting chaired by Erdogan, Reuters reported.
The White House had already registered its opposition to yet another military incursion to Syria, stating that its soldiers might come in harm’s way. PATurkey will report any reactions from Iran and Russia.
Erdogan’s sudden decision to attack Syrian Kurdish territories most likely reflects domestic concerns. 13 months before the scheduled elections, his party AKP and its ally MHP have seen their total support 39%, while Erdogan may lose to a candidate from CHP ranks. Stoking fear of Kurdish terror had in the past consolidated the conservative-nationalist votes in AKP. It remains to be seen whether inflation-stricken electorate will support the upcoming military campaign in Syria.
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