KURDS PROTEST INCURSIONS AS TURKEY GOES TO POLLS
DAMASCUS— Iraqi Kurds protested Turkish incursions into Iraqi Kurdistan while Syria condemned Turkish activities in its northern territory as Turkey went to the polls on Sunday to elect a new leader.
Hundreds of Iraqi Kurds marched in Qardiah on Friday to protest Turkey’s repeated incursions into the region, reaching 30 kilometers into Iraqi Kurdistan.
Syria also protested Turkey’s activities along Kurdish-controlled areas along its northern border as Istanbul brought in Turkish administrators and security forces in Syrian cities it seized from Syrian Kurds.
“Syria strongly condemns and absolutely rejects the incursion of Turkish and American forces into the area of Manbij city,” said a foreign ministry source, quoted by state news agency Sana.
Istanbul taking over
Turkey is now trying to grow long-term roots in northern Syria after ousting Kurdish forces from the Afrin region, west of Manbij.
Istanbul is now remodeling northern Syrian areas on its own towns and bringing in its own administrators and military, financial and security institutions.