Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Turkey bombs Kurdish villages northwest Syria
ARA News ^ | February 7, 2017 | Wladimir van Wilgenburg

Posted on 02/08/2017 5:17:45 AM PST by Texas Fossil

Kurdish officials on Monday accused the Turkish army of shelling the villages of Maranaaz, Vilat al-Qadi, Sheikh Issa east of Afrin district and entering Syrian territory. Turkish media confirmed the shelling.

“Turkish army and affiliated terrorists are heavily shelling east Efrin [Afrin] from Azaz city since Monday evening — the attacks continued until the moment,” the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) said in a statement.

The Turkish army has been bombarding Kurdish positions in Afrin district from the rebel-held areas of Marea and Azaz in Aleppo Governorate, in northwestern Syria.

It’s unclear if the shelling was a result of clashes between Kurdish fighters and Turkey-backed militants.

“Where is the ceasefire, if Turkish troops attack the People’s Protection Units in Efrin,” said Ilham Ahmed, a senior Kurdish official, calling on Russia to condemn the violations.

The Turkish army continues to build walls and enter the Syrian Kurdish border areas for weeks. Moreover, there have been constant bombardments of Kurdish positions near Efrin and Til Rifaat, according to local sources.

The Turkish government is building concrete walls under the pretext of stopping illegal crossings along the 900-kilometer borderline with Syria.

However, Kurdish officials in Syria say the wall is built to embargo the Kurdish-held territories in Syria.

In the meantime, a Turkish army convoy entered Azaz city this weekend.

The Turkish government has vowed that the Turkey-backed Euphrates Shield Operation in Syria –launched in August 2016– will continue in Manbij and Afrin, once al-Bab city is captured.

However, the Turkish army and Turkey-backed rebels in Syria are struggling with taking al-Bab from ISIS.

While Turkey and its allies fight ISIS in northern al-Bab, the Syrian army has continued its advance towards the city from the south in an operation launched three weeks ago.

The Turkish army has earlier said that ISIS was about to withdraw from al-Bab. However, the group continues to hold positions there.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Syria
KEYWORDS: kurds; shelled; syria; turkey
It is clear. Erdogan and Turkish Army are invaders of Syria. Not motivated by ending ISIS (Turkey until very recently was helping ISIS)

Our fellow NATO member is no longer an ally. It is clear, but no one will admit what it is now.

1 posted on 02/08/2017 5:17:45 AM PST by Texas Fossil
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Texas Fossil

Erdogan’s dream of reestablishing a Turkish dominated Caliphate consisting of Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Arabia will only die when he is dead and Turkey is again made secular. Erdogan wishes to treat the Kurds the way the Turks dealt with the Armenians.


2 posted on 02/08/2017 5:26:22 AM PST by allendale
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: allendale

Totally agree. And the Kurds are not the Armenians.

With a little help, they would kick the “new” Turkish army to the curb.


3 posted on 02/08/2017 5:31:33 AM PST by Texas Fossil ((Texas is not where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind & Attitude!))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Texas Fossil

I apologise if this is a dumb question but ... how does Turkey get away with this?

And with so many other things?


4 posted on 02/08/2017 9:44:24 PM PST by BlackVeil ('The past is never dead. It's not even past.' William Faulkner)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BlackVeil

Some nonsense excuse dating back to WWI. Was not part of Turkey, but they had some control.

Reality? Turkey has been NATO long time. Their military was the anchor that prevented Islamists controlling. Military would step in. After recent purge, laws changed. No longer in control.

The military purge got 90% of the top officers. They are not very effective in Syria, in spite of having great military equipment.

There is more to the equation with relation to Kurds. They have been growing political threat to Erdogan within Turkey. All of the opposition candidates are in prison. He intends to steal the upcoming election.

That is rough/short explanation.


5 posted on 02/09/2017 7:54:25 AM PST by Texas Fossil ((Texas is not where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind & Attitude!))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson