Turkey continues offensive in Syria
Rahshan Saglam
Press TV, Istanbul
Defying widespread calls to halt its military operation in northeastern Syria, Turkey stepped up its military operation across the border on Friday.
Turkish fighter jets carried out airstrikes against Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad on the third day of the offensive while the army and allied militants encircled the border towns, with the Kurdish YPG militants reportedly putting up a stiff resistance.
Turkey insists that its operation was prompted by its security concerns stemming from the presence of the YPG, which Ankara considers a terrorist organization, in northeastern Syria.
On Friday, the Turkish army announced that approximately 350 Kurdish militants from YPG and PYD were killed since the beginning of the operation.
Turkey said it had captured 11 villages, while the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces announced it was able to regain control of two of those.
Experts say this is only the first stage of the operation, as two others will follow, and say that all efforts now are to end the first stage with a minimum number of casualties among the Turkish army.
There have been civilian casualties on both sides. Several countries have raised concerns about Turkey's Syria campaign, demanding a halt to the offensive.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg who met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday also called on Ankara to act with restraint while recognizing its 'legitimate security concerns'.
Turkey began its offensive on Kurdish-controlled areas in northeastern Syria on Wednesday just days after the US pulled out its forces and abandoned its Kurdish allies there. Ankara says Operation Peace Spring will neutralize terror threats against Turkey and lead to the establishment of a safe zone, facilitating the return of Syrian refugees to their homes.
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