Turkish forces target Kurdish-held Syrian city of Afrin

Turkish forces target Kurdish-held Syrian city of Afrin
Turkish forces targeted Kurdish forces in Afrin, following Erdogan's announced intention to clear the area of "terrorists".
1 min read
16 January, 2018
Turkey considers YPG forces to be terrorists (AFP)
Turkish forces targeted positions in the Afrin region, north of Aleppo, currently controlled by Kurdish forces. 

Artillery shells from a Turkish military site near the city of Aazaz targeted sites in the village of Termi, the city of Afrin, and Mount Bersaya, according to local reports.

Residents reported hearing continual shelling and aircraft over the city of Afrin and the surrounding villages.

Anatolia News Agency reported on Monday that the Turkish army has been pushing for additional military reinforcements to its units depolyed on Syria’s border.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday threatened to attack the Kurdish-held town of Afrin in northern Syria "in the days ahead" saying Ankara troops will clear it of "terrorists".

Afrin is controlled by YPG militia considered by Ankara to be a terror group linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) waging an insurgency inside Turkey.

The PKK is blacklisted as a terror group by Ankara and its Western allies.

The US sees the YPG as the most effective fighting force against IS and last year provided it with arms ahead of major battles in Syria.