Turkish forces seize targets in northeast Syria offensive
World powers fear Ankara’s actions could deepen the ongoing conflict
ISTANBUL: Turkey said its forces seized designated targets on the second day of an offensive against a Kurdish militia in Syria, after a withdrawal by US forces opened up a dangerous new phase in the region’s eight-year-old conflict.
Senior members of US President Donald Trump’s own Republican Party condemned him for making way for the incursion and abandoning Syrian Kurds, who have been loyal allies of Washington in the fight against Islamic State in Syria.
NATO-ally Turkey has said it intends to create a “safe zone” for the return of millions of refugees to Syria. But world powers fear Turkey’s action could deepen the conflict, and runs the risk of Islamic State prisoners escaping from camps amid the chaos.
The Kurdish-led authority in northern Syria said a prison struck by Turkish shelling holds “the most dangerous criminals from more than 60 nationalities” and Turkey’s attacks on its prisons risked “a catastrophe”.
“Our heroic commandos taking part in Operation Peace Spring are continuing to advance east of the Euphrates (river),” the defence ministry wrote on Twitter. “The designated targets were seized,” it said in a later statement.
INDIAN GOVERNMENT SLAMS TURKEY’S PUSH
BEIRUT: India has added its voice to the international condemnation and concerns over Turkey’s invasion of northeastern Syria in an offensive there against Syrian Kurdish fighters.
India’s foreign ministry issued a press release saying New Delhi is “deeply concerned at the unilateral military offensive by Turkey in north-east Syria”.
UNSC SET TO HOLD EMERGENCY MEETING
ANKARA: The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting to discuss the recent Turkey offensive. “Tomorrow morning, we are going to do Colombia briefing and immediately afterwards the Syrian question is scheduled for tomorrow morning,” the council’s president South African Ambassador Jerry Matjila told reporters.
US TAKES CUSTODY OF ‘THE BEATLES’
WASHINGTON: Two notorious Islamic State jihadists dubbed “The Beatles” who were held by Syrian Kurds are now in US custody and have been moved out of the country, Trump said in a tweet.
The pair were part of an extremely violent all-British four-man cell that kidnapped and tortured foreigners.