Turkey shelled the U.S.-backed Kurdish People's Protection Units fighters (YPG) several times in recent days and Davutoglu warned that if the Kurds do not withdraw from a nearby air base then Turkish forces will make it "unusable."
- Russia, which has been backing Syrian forces with airstrikes since late September, expressed concern Monday at what it called Turkey's "aggressive actions."
Syria accused Turkey of sending ground troops into Aleppo province Saturday. Turkey's defense minister denied the allegations and said the military has no plans to deploy its forces across the border.
Aleppo has become a focal point in the Syrian conflict, with Turkey targeting U.S.-allied Kurdish fighters, and the Kurds battling a Russian-backed offensive by Syrian troops who are trying to recapture the area from several opposition groups.
The fighting comes as major powers try to implement a temporary cessation of hostilities this week.
European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said Monday the current situation in Syria does not match the agreement to reverse the violence.
"Only few days ago all of us, including Turkey, sitting around the table decided steps to de-escalate and have a cessation of hostilities, cessation of hostility," she said. "We discussed concrete modalities for doing that. Having on the ground trends that go on the opposite direction is not obviously what we expect."
[voanews.com]
15/2/16
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---Syrian Kurds reject Turkish demands. France calls on Turkey to stop
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US concerned about the situation north of Aleppo and urges Turkey to halt Syria strikes
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The Kurdish-backed Syria Democratic Forces have taken control of around 70 percent of Tal Rifaat, a town between Aleppo city and Azaz near the Turkish border, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights conflict monitor said on Monday...
ReplyDeleteA major offensive against Syrian rebels, supported by Russian bombing and Iranian-backed forces, has brought the Syrian army to within 25 km (15 miles) of Turkey's border and Kurdish-backed forces have exploited the situation, seizing ground from Syrian rebels to extend its presence along the frontier.
todayszaman.com BY REUTER