Turkey says to target Syrian Kurdish militia if no Euphrates retreat

Clashes between Turkey, US-backed Kurds in Syria ‘unacceptable’: Pentagon

AFP, ISTANBUL/WASHINGTON: Turkey on Monday said it would continue targeting a Syrian Kurdish militia in Syria if it failed to fulfil promises to retreat east of the Euphrates River, accusing the group of ethnic cleansing.
“The YPG (People’s Protection Units) first of all... needs to cross east of the Euphrates as soon as possible. So long as they don’t, they will be a target,” said Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
“In the places where it has moved, the YPG forces everyone out—including Kurds—who do not think like it does and carries out ethnic cleansing,” he added.
Ankara had said it had killed 25 Kurdish “terrorists” on Sunday as it pressed on with a two-pronged operation inside Syria against the Islamic State (IS) jihadists and the YPG.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 40 civilians were killed in Turkish shelling and airstrikes, claims that were strongly rejected by Ankara.
“Allegations that... civilians were shot at or targeted do not reflect the truth,” the office of the prime minister said, adding the army was taking “all necessary measures to prevent any harm to the civilian population”.
The action against the YPG is hugely sensitive as the Kurdish group—seen as a terror group by Ankara—is an ally of Turkey’s NATO ally, the United States, in the fight against IS in Syria.
Cavusoglu said the ethnic composition of the area around the city of Manbij west of the Euphrates—captured by the YPG from IS earlier this month—was largely Arab.
“Residents who had to leave the region (before fighting broke out) must be the ones who live there. But that is not the goal of the YPG,” he said at a news conference alongside his Dutch counterpart Bert Koenders.
Cavusoglu also hailed the success of the lightning operation by Turkish-backed Syrian Arab fighters, who on Wednesday captured the town of Jarabulus from IS.
“The objective of this operation (Jarabulus) ... is to clear this region of the Daesh (IS) terrorist organisation.”
“As you see, even with a small force, the Daesh terrorist organisation is leaving and running away from the regions under their control,” he added.
Another news from Washington adds: Clashes between Turkish forces and units affiliated with a US-backed Kurdish-led alliance in Syria are “unacceptable”, the Pentagon said Monday, calling on all sides to “stand down”.
In a statement sent to AFP, Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook condemned the fighting south of the Syrian town of Jarabulus.
“We are closely monitoring reports of clashes south of Jarabulus—where ISIL is no longer located—between the Turkish armed forces, some opposition groups, and units that are affiliated with the SDF (Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces),” he said.
ISIL is an acronym for the Islamic State (IS) group.
“We want to make clear that we find these clashes unacceptable and they are a source of deep concern.”
The United States “was not involved in these activities, they were not coordinated with US forces, and we do not support them,” he said.
“This is an already crowded battle space. Accordingly, we are calling on all armed actors to stand down immediately and take appropriate measures to de-conflict.”
The comments come after Turkish forces began a two-pronged operation against IS and Kurdish fighters from the People’s Protection Units (YPG) inside Syria on Wednesday.
The YPG is the main component of the US-backed SDF alliance, which has been fighting IS in northern Syria.
Turkey considers the YPG a “terrorist” group and said Monday it would continue to target the group if it failed to retreat east of the Euphrates River.
Turkish forces backed by pro-Ankara rebels seized the town of Jarabulus from IS on the first day of the operation, but have since then clashed with local fighters affiliated with the SDF.
US Vice President Joe Biden made a visit to Turkey last week, during which he said Washington was looking “to preserve the territorial integrity of Syria,” Cook explained.

 

Turkey says to target Syrian Kurdish militia if no Euphrates retreat

Clashes between Turkey, US-backed Kurds in Syria unacceptable: Pentagon

AFP, ISTANBUL/WASHINGTON: Turkey on Monday said it would continue targeting a Syrian Kurdish militia in Syria if it failed to fulfil promises to retreat east of the Euphrates River, accusing the group of ethnic cleansing. The YPG (Peoples Protection Units) first of all... needs to cross east of the Euphrates as soon as possible. So long as they dont, they will be a target, said Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. In the places where it has moved, the YPG forces everyone outincluding Kurdswho do not think like it does and carries out ethnic cleansing, he added. Ankara had said it had killed 25 Kurdish terrorists on Sunday as it pressed on with a two-pronged operation inside Syria against the Islamic State (IS) jihadists and the YPG. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 40 civilians were killed in Turkish shelling and airstrikes, claims that were strongly rejected by Ankara. Allegations that... civilians were shot at or targeted do not reflect the truth, the office of the prime minister said, adding the army was taking all necessary measures to prevent any harm to the civilian population. The action against the YPG is hugely sensitive as the Kurdish groupseen as a terror group by Ankarais an ally of Turkeys NATO ally, the United States, in the fight against IS in Syria. Cavusoglu said the ethnic composition of the area around the city of Manbij west of the Euphratescaptured by the YPG from IS earlier this monthwas largely Arab. Residents who had to leave the region (before fighting broke out) must be the ones who live there. But that is not the goal of the YPG, he said at a news conference alongside his Dutch counterpart Bert Koenders. Cavusoglu also hailed the success of the lightning operation by Turkish-backed Syrian Arab fighters, who on Wednesday captured the town of Jarabulus from IS. The objective of this operation (Jarabulus) ... is to clear this region of the Daesh (IS) terrorist organisation. As you see, even with a small force, the Daesh terrorist organisation is leaving and running away from the regions under their control, he added. Another news from Washington adds: Clashes between Turkish forces and units affiliated with a US-backed Kurdish-led alliance in Syria are unacceptable, the Pentagon said Monday, calling on all sides to stand down. In a statement sent to AFP, Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook condemned the fighting south of the Syrian town of Jarabulus. We are closely monitoring reports of clashes south of Jarabuluswhere ISIL is no longer locatedbetween the Turkish armed forces, some opposition groups, and units that are affiliated with the SDF (Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces), he said. ISIL is an acronym for the Islamic State (IS) group. We want to make clear that we find these clashes unacceptable and they are a source of deep concern. The United States was not involved in these activities, they were not coordinated with US forces, and we do not support them, he said. This is an already crowded battle space. Accordingly, we are calling on all armed actors to stand down immediately and take appropriate measures to de-conflict. The comments come after Turkish forces began a two-pronged operation against IS and Kurdish fighters from the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) inside Syria on Wednesday. The YPG is the main component of the US-backed SDF alliance, which has been fighting IS in northern Syria. Turkey considers the YPG a terrorist group and said Monday it would continue to target the group if it failed to retreat east of the Euphrates River. Turkish forces backed by pro-Ankara rebels seized the town of Jarabulus from IS on the first day of the operation, but have since then clashed with local fighters affiliated with the SDF. US Vice President Joe Biden made a visit to Turkey last week, during which he said Washington was looking to preserve the territorial integrity of Syria, Cook explained.