kayhan.ir

News ID: 30522
Publish Date : 27 August 2016 - 21:43

Turkish Troops Clash With U.S.-Backed Forces

ANKARA (Dispatches) --The Turkish military and allied militants clashed with the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and pro-Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria on Saturday.
"Turkish tanks advanced today near Al-Amarneh in Aleppo province, south of the border, and clashes broke out between them and fighters backed by Kurdish forces," Syrian Observatory for Human Rights head Rami Abdel Rahman said.
According to the pro-SDF Manbij Military Council, Turkish forces also targeted positions of pro-SDF fighters in the village of Yusufbeg.
"The bombardment conducted by Turkish jets this morning left some Jarablus Military Council fighters injured, and these were taken under treatment in hospitals in Manbij," said the council, in a statement released on the pro-Kurdish Firat News Agency, referring to the pro-SDF military grouping aimed at capturing Jarabulus.
It added that Turkey had "dangerously escalated its attacks by exploiting the silence of the world and international and regional temporary consensus for its blatant interference in Jarabulus in order to obstruct the war on terror," referring to Turkey's decision to enter northern Syria on Wednesday, ostensibly to drive Daesh militants out of the border city of Jarabulus.
Fighters from the Turkish-backed militant group Faylaq al-Sham also reported that several people had been killed after they clashed with the SDF south of Jarabulus on Saturday morning.
Turkish jets also carried out airstrikes on YPG/SDF positions south of Jarabulus, which was captured by Turkey and its allies on Thursday from Daesh.
The clashes are likely to be a headache for the U.S., which ostensibly supports both sides involved in the fighting.
The SDF and YPG put out mixed reactions to the escalation on Saturday. A number of SDF component groups, including the Arab-majority Jaish al-Thuwwar, announced their intention to challenge the "Turkish occupation.”
However, another YPG commander stated on Twitter that his group would show restraint with regards to the Turkish forces and continue to focus on fighting Daesh.
"Regarding increased Turkish military attacks on our border positions in triple cantons (northern Syria), we continue to take on the restraint approach – refusing engagement despite the losses we suffer,” said YPG Derik Command, on the YPG's official Twitter account.
"To stabilize the north of the country, the goal remains fighting DAESH and not Turkish forces.”
 The U.S. has supported the SDF in northern Syria. However, on Wednesday, speaking at a press conference in Turkey alongside the prime minister, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said that the YPG would lose U.S. support if they continued to spread westwards across the Euphrates river.
YPG spokesperson Redur Xelil said, "We are in our own land and we will not leave it as per some request. We will not act in line with the request of Turkey or some other power.”