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Turkey, Ankara-backed rebels launch op to retake Syrian town from ISIS Turkey, Ankara-backed rebels launch op to retake Syrian town from ISIS
(35 minutes later)
Ankara has begun a military operation with the aim of retaking the Syrian town of Jarablus from the hands of the Islamic State (IS, ISIS/ISIL), state-run press agency Anadolu Agency reported. The Turkish army is reportedly backing Islamist rebels fighting IS.Ankara has begun a military operation with the aim of retaking the Syrian town of Jarablus from the hands of the Islamic State (IS, ISIS/ISIL), state-run press agency Anadolu Agency reported. The Turkish army is reportedly backing Islamist rebels fighting IS.
Turkish military employed intense artillery fire against Islamic State fighters in Jarabulus, officials told the Turkish media.The troops managed to get close to the town quickly, with reports saying that the troops are just 5 kilometers away. The operation is receiving air support. The Turkish air force has hit IS targets in northern Syria, according to Anadolu. Turkish military employed intense artillery fire against Islamic State fighters in Jarabulus, officials told the Turkish media.The troops managed to get close to the town quickly, with reports saying that the troops are just 5 kilometers away.
The operation is receiving air support. The Turkish air force has hit IS targets in northern Syria, according to Anadolu.
“Operation in Jarabulus aims to prevent new flows of migration, deliver aid to civilians, clear area of terrorist elements,” the news agency tweeted. The military advance began at around 4 a.m. local time. The decision to move in on Jarabulus is said to have come after a number of mortar bombs hit a residential Turkish area near the Syrian border on Tuesday morning.“Operation in Jarabulus aims to prevent new flows of migration, deliver aid to civilians, clear area of terrorist elements,” the news agency tweeted. The military advance began at around 4 a.m. local time. The decision to move in on Jarabulus is said to have come after a number of mortar bombs hit a residential Turkish area near the Syrian border on Tuesday morning.
But other reports have pointed to the fact that it comes at the time when a US-backed alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters is also making a push towards the border town. The Kurdish-led force has taken full control of the nearby Manbij by driving IS militants out of the city, which was used by terrorists to smuggle weapons and goods. Ankara has been concerned over the autonomy of Kurds in Syria as Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) of the Democratic Union Party of Syria (PYD) with the help of American-led airstrikes, continue to capture vast amount of territory in Northern Syria, which borders Kurdish-dominant southeastern Turkey, where Ankara has engaged the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in a brutal military campaign for over a year.Turkey has repeatedly stressed that it would not tolerate Kurds staying west of the Euphrates River, with YPG-PYD advances in northern Syria remaining the key security issue for Ankara. The Turkish government has labeled both groups as terrorist organizations, despite their fierce efforts in fighting Islamic State. But other reports have pointed to the fact that it comes at a time when a US-backed alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters is also making a push toward the border town.
The Kurdish-led force has taken full control of nearby Manbij by driving IS militants out of the city, which was used by terrorists to smuggle weapons and goods.
Ankara has been concerned over the autonomy of Kurds in Syria as Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) of the Democratic Union Party of Syria (PYD), with the help of American-led airstrikes, continue to capture vast swathes of territory in northern Syria, which borders Kurdish-dominated southeast Turkey, where Ankara has engaged the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in a brutal military campaign for over a year.Turkey has repeatedly stressed that it would not tolerate Kurds staying west of the Euphrates River, with YPG-PYD advances in northern Syria remaining the key security issue for Ankara. The Turkish government has labeled both groups as terrorist organizations, despite their fierce efforts in fighting Islamic State.
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