Turkish military sends more munitions to Syrian border over alleged threats from YPG
The Turkish military has reinforced its presence in the other side of the barbed wire border with Syria amid perceived threats from the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), a major component of the US-backed militiamen from the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Turkey deployed a six-vehicle convoy that included tanks and howitzers to the southern province of Kilis to be positioned across from the Kurdish-controlled Syrian region of Afrin.
Turkey has been vehemently opposed to the YPG’s presence in northern Syria.
Ankara views the People's Protection Units as the Syrian branch of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militant group, which has been fighting for an autonomous region inside Turkey since 1984.
On June 6, the SDF said it had launched an operation aimed at pushing the Daesh terrorist group out of Raqqah.
The city of Raqqah, which lies on the northern bank of the Euphrates River, was overrun by the Daesh terrorists in March 2013, and was proclaimed the center for most of the Takfiris’ administrative and control tasks the following year.
Turkish officials have frequently voiced strong opposition to the involvement of the Kurdish People's Protection Units in the US-led offensive to retake Raqqah.
Speaking to reporters while on a visit to Montenegro on May 10, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stated that Washington knows Ankara’s position on the YPG very well so it should not take wrong steps in Syria.
The top Turkish diplomat added that the United States needed to distinguish between the YPG and their Arab allies in the SDF, and that the Arabs should be the ones to enter Raqqah.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also set out Turkey's objections at a White House meeting with his counterpart Donald Trump in mid-May.
Syria’s de facto new ruler names Asaad al-Shibani as foreign minister
Iranian embassy staffer assassinated by terrorists in Damascus
Israeli forces open fire on Syrians protesting occupation
Relentless Israeli ceasefire violations justify need for self-defense: Lebanese MP
Tel Aviv tells Damascus Israeli forces will remain in occupied territory: Report
Dec. 22: ‘Axis of Resistance’ operations against Israeli occupation
‘Abhorrent’: Oxfam says only 12 trucks delivered aid in North Gaza since Oct.
VIDEO | Leader receives religious eulogists on Hazrat Fatima birth anniv.
Pope Francis slams Israel’s ‘machine-gunning’ of Gaza children
US hostage-taking of Iranian nationals violation of intl. law: Deputy FM
VIDEO | Carol Singers for Palestine on London’s Parliament Square
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
