As the Turkish & allied forces attempted to seize important border towns of Syria today they faced firm resistance from the Kurds.
Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces are attempting to repulse Turk and allied ground attacks along the 120-kilometer-long segment of border. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: “There is heavy fighting between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Turks on different fronts, mostly from Tal Abyad to Ras al-Ain. The Syrian Democratic Forces are using tunnels, trenches and berms” in their defense operations.
It is pertinent to mention here that President Donald Trump, whose order to pull back US troops from the border this week triggered the invasion, said Washington would now seek to broker a truce.
Due to air and ground strikes so far 24 civilians lost their lives (17 on the Syrian side and 7 in Turkey). One Turkish soldier got killed in the skirmish while 41 SDF fighters were reported dead. Meanwhile, due to the intensifying ground and air strikes mass exodus of the civilian populace was witnessed.
A relevant piece published earlier:
Nato Sec. Gen, concerned about Turkey’s operation against Kurds
ISTANBUL: The Secretary General of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) Jens Stoltenberg while commenting on the ongoing Turkish operation against Kurdish Rebels in Syria has called for restraint.
While talking to the Media here, alongside Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Nato Se. Gen. held: “I shared my serious concerns about this ongoing operation and the risk of further destabilization of the region…While Turkey has serious security concerns, we expect Turkey to act with restraint.”
Acknowledging that Turkey was an important part of the Nato alliance, Stoltenberg said that gains against the militant Islamic State group should not undermined: “These gains must not be jeopardized. An imminent concern is that captured Daesh (IS) prisoners must not be allowed to escape,” he held.
It is pertinent to mention here that Turkey considers Kurdish militants in northern Syria a terrorist offshoot of Kurdish insurgents in its own territory. Turkey wants a 30-kilometer wide buffer zone along the border.
This buffer could also be used as an area to repatriate of millions of Syrian refugees that Turkey presently harbors.
Territorial integrity of Syria must be respected: China
BEIJING: Following the Turkish operation into Kurdish-controlled region of Northeast Syria, China held that country’s territorial integrity must be respected.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman addressing a regular Presser held here today stated: “China always believes that Syria’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity must be respected and upheld.
“We have noticed that all parties are generally worried about the possible consequences of Turkey’s military operation, and urged Turkey to exercise restraint.
“The international community should work together to create conditions for a political settlement of the Syrian issue and avoid adding new and complicated factors to the situation.”
Military operation launched by Turkey against Kurdish Fighters in NE Syria
ANKARA: As soon as President Tayyip Erdogan here had proclaimed commencement of an operation against US-backed Kurdish fighters – who control the Northeastern Syria – on Wednesday (9th of October, 2019), its artillery started pounding the region from ground while Turkish fighter jets unleashed airstrikes from the sky.
Observers are confident that as a result of this offensive by Turkish Military at-least seven civilians lost their lives.
It is pertinent to mention here that the offensive was triggered by a discussion carried out by US and Turk presidents on Sunday 6th of October, 2019. Trump who is withdrawing US troops from the region had handed over the leadership of the campaign contre IS in Syria to Ankara.
According to details a limited ground assault began at 10 p.m. local time (1900 GMT) today near the town of Tal Abyad following Turkish aircraft and artillery attack on Syrian towns along the border all through the day, killing civilians and fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces prior to the premeditated incursion.
Kurdish Red Crescent has confirmed that seven people lost their lives as the result of artillery and airstrikes that was carried out all through the day and night near Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ayn), Tal Abyad, Derik, Kobane, Ein Issa and Qamishli.
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