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| Turkey shells Kurdish fighters in Aleppo province as Bashar al-Assad's forces continue to advance on rebels | Turkey shells Kurdish fighters in Aleppo province as Bashar al-Assad's forces continue to advance on rebels |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Turkey has been shelling Kurdish fighters in Syria’s Aleppo province as regime forces backed by Russian air strikes continue to make gains against rebels. | Turkey has been shelling Kurdish fighters in Syria’s Aleppo province as regime forces backed by Russian air strikes continue to make gains against rebels. |
| Shelling was reported at Menagh air base, a former Syrian Air Force facility that Kurds seized from Islamist rebels just days ago, and at three other positions between the airport and Turkish border. | Shelling was reported at Menagh air base, a former Syrian Air Force facility that Kurds seized from Islamist rebels just days ago, and at three other positions between the airport and Turkish border. |
| Tweeting from its seemingly official PYD Rojava account, the Democratic Union Party confirmed the attack on Menagh and shared an aerial photo appearing to show craters in the ground. | Tweeting from its seemingly official PYD Rojava account, the Democratic Union Party confirmed the attack on Menagh and shared an aerial photo appearing to show craters in the ground. |
| “The Turkish Armed Forces fired shells at PYD positions in the Azaz area,” a Turkish government source told Reuters. | “The Turkish Armed Forces fired shells at PYD positions in the Azaz area,” a Turkish government source told Reuters. |
| The air base has been a key target for several parties in the Syrian civil war since 2012, being besieged by rebels for almost a year until it was seized by a coalition including an early form of Isis and the al-Qaeda-linked Jabhat al-Nusra in August 2013. | The air base has been a key target for several parties in the Syrian civil war since 2012, being besieged by rebels for almost a year until it was seized by a coalition including an early form of Isis and the al-Qaeda-linked Jabhat al-Nusra in August 2013. |
| It remained in rebel hands until Thursday, when Kurdish PYD fighters capitalised on the diversion caused by Bashar al-Assad’s forces and Russian air strikes attacking rebel areas to the south to seize Menagh. | It remained in rebel hands until Thursday, when Kurdish PYD fighters capitalised on the diversion caused by Bashar al-Assad’s forces and Russian air strikes attacking rebel areas to the south to seize Menagh. |
| Russian planes staged at least 30 raids against rebels, Reuters reported, although it was unclear whether the bombing was deliberately in support of the Kurds. | Russian planes staged at least 30 raids against rebels, Reuters reported, although it was unclear whether the bombing was deliberately in support of the Kurds. |
| Zekeriya Karsli, a rebel commander from the Levant Front alliance said at the time, said: “The fall of Menagh airport has made the situation on the ground pretty grim.” | Zekeriya Karsli, a rebel commander from the Levant Front alliance said at the time, said: “The fall of Menagh airport has made the situation on the ground pretty grim.” |
| Other recent gains reported include the villages of Deir Jameal and al-Qamiya, which rebels evacuated as Syrian troops advanced from the south. | Other recent gains reported include the villages of Deir Jameal and al-Qamiya, which rebels evacuated as Syrian troops advanced from the south. |
| “The Kurds have gained from the major offensive in Aleppo to widen their areas of control,” Rami Abdulrahman, head of the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said. | “The Kurds have gained from the major offensive in Aleppo to widen their areas of control,” Rami Abdulrahman, head of the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said. |
| The US-led coalition has backed Kurdish fighters in Syria and Iraq because of their role fighting Isis, succeeding in pushing the terrorist group back in northern Syria. | The US-led coalition has backed Kurdish fighters in Syria and Iraq because of their role fighting Isis, succeeding in pushing the terrorist group back in northern Syria. |
| But Turkey, which is struggling to end a three-decade insurgency on its own territory by Kurdish militants, views them as terrorists and has been sporadically shelling groups fighting along its border. | But Turkey, which is struggling to end a three-decade insurgency on its own territory by Kurdish militants, views them as terrorists and has been sporadically shelling groups fighting along its border. |
| President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lashed out at the US for supporting groups including the PYD and Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) last week. | President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lashed out at the US for supporting groups including the PYD and Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) last week. |
| “Are you on our side or the side of the terrorist PYD and PKK organisation?” he asked, claiming the West was creating a “sea of blood”. | “Are you on our side or the side of the terrorist PYD and PKK organisation?” he asked, claiming the West was creating a “sea of blood”. |
| Turkey has also said it will not permit Kurds to join peace talks in Geneva, which are scheduled to re-start later this month after falling apart in January. | Turkey has also said it will not permit Kurds to join peace talks in Geneva, which are scheduled to re-start later this month after falling apart in January. |
| But John Kirby, a spokesperson for the US State Department, said America does not recognise the PYD as terrorists and support would continue. | But John Kirby, a spokesperson for the US State Department, said America does not recognise the PYD as terrorists and support would continue. |
| “Kurdish fighters have been some of the most successful in going after Daesh (Isis) inside Syria,” he added. | “Kurdish fighters have been some of the most successful in going after Daesh (Isis) inside Syria,” he added. |
| “We have provided a measure of support, mostly through the air, and that support will continue.” | “We have provided a measure of support, mostly through the air, and that support will continue.” |
| Turkey’s foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, announced that Saudi Arabia would be sending fighter jets and troops to Turkey ahead of co-ordinated operation in Syria. | Turkey’s foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, announced that Saudi Arabia would be sending fighter jets and troops to Turkey ahead of co-ordinated operation in Syria. |
| “At every coalition meeting we have always emphasised the need for an extensive result-oriented strategy in the fight against the Daesh terrorist group,” he told a Turkish newspaper on Saturday. | “At every coalition meeting we have always emphasised the need for an extensive result-oriented strategy in the fight against the Daesh terrorist group,” he told a Turkish newspaper on Saturday. |
| “If we have such a strategy, then Turkey and Saudi Arabia may launch an operation from the ground.” | “If we have such a strategy, then Turkey and Saudi Arabia may launch an operation from the ground.” |
| Meanwhile, Assad’s forces made new gains on Saturday, capturing the village of Tamoura near Aleppo and tightening the noose around rebel-held parts of Syria’s second city. | Meanwhile, Assad’s forces made new gains on Saturday, capturing the village of Tamoura near Aleppo and tightening the noose around rebel-held parts of Syria’s second city. |
| State television and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the gains, while Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV said government are now nearing the towns of Hayan and Anadan, which lie on the road to Aleppo city. | State television and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the gains, while Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV said government are now nearing the towns of Hayan and Anadan, which lie on the road to Aleppo city. |
| Activists were reporting Russian air strikes in the area today, as John Kerry, the US Secretary of State, accused the Kremlin of targeting civilians and legitimate opposition groups. | Activists were reporting Russian air strikes in the area today, as John Kerry, the US Secretary of State, accused the Kremlin of targeting civilians and legitimate opposition groups. |
| The Russian Prime Minister said the reports were “just not true” and claimed Isis was the target of his country’s intervention. | The Russian Prime Minister said the reports were “just not true” and claimed Isis was the target of his country’s intervention. |
| Talks in the German city of Munich on Friday saw world powers agree a temporary “cessation of hostilities” to start within a week but there was little hope for a long-term truce after Assad vowed to retake the whole of Syria by force. | Talks in the German city of Munich on Friday saw world powers agree a temporary “cessation of hostilities” to start within a week but there was little hope for a long-term truce after Assad vowed to retake the whole of Syria by force. |
| Additional reporting by Reuters | Additional reporting by Reuters |