Turkish military operation launched in northern Syria, Erdogan says

Cox Media via WPXI ^ | October 9, 2019 | Theresa Seiger

[rightwingintelligentsia]

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Wednesday the beginning of a military operation in northeastern Syria, days after President Donald Trump pulled U.S. troops out of the region.

"The Turkish Armed Forces, together with the Syrian National Army, just launched #OperationPeaceSpring," Erdogan wrote Wednesday in a tweet. "Our mission is to prevent the creation of a terror corridor across our southern border, and to bring peace to the area."

Mustafa Bali, a spokesman for the U.S.-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, said Turkish warplanes started carrying out airstrikes on civilian targets Wednesday.

"There is a huge panic among people of the region," he said.

Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency reported two mortar shells had been fired into Ceylanpinar, a Turkish town on the border with Syria, from the Syrian Kurdish town of Ras al Ayn. The Syrian Kurdish town was targeted by Turkish forces, with large explosions, artillery fire and smoke reported, Reuters reported, citing a CNN Turk reporter. Kurdish forces told AFP at least two civilians were killed in the attack.

According to Reuters, Turkish howitzers began to strike bases and ammunition depots of the Kurdish YPG militia on Wednesday and targeted the militia's gun and sniper positions.

The conflict prompted officials to call an emergency meeting Thursday of the United Nations Security Council, AFP reported.

[Sam Gamgee]

Appreciate that.