Nerves on edge at Syria-Turkey line

ISTANBUL — Tensions rose Saturday along the Turkish-Syrian border as both Turkey and the U.S. moved armored vehicles to the region and Turkey’s leader once again demanded that the United States stop supporting the Syrian Kurdish militants there.

The relocation of Turkish troops to an area near the border with Syria came a day after U.S. troops were seen patrolling the border in Syria. Those patrols followed a Turkish airstrike against bases of Syrian Kurdish fighters, Washington’s main ally in fighting Islamic State militants in Syria.

The People’s Protection Units forms the backbone of the U.S.-backed Syria Democratic Forces.

More U.S. troops were seen Saturday in armored vehicles in Kurdish areas in Syria. Kurdish officials describe U.S. troop movement as “buffer” between them and Turkey.

But Turkey views Syria’s Kurdish People’s Protection Units as a terrorist organization and an extension of the Kurdish militants who have been waging a three-decadelong insurgency against Turkey.

“The [People’s Protection Units], and you know who’s supporting them, is attacking us with mortars. But we will make those places their grave, there is no stopping,” President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.

Footage shot late Friday showed a long line of Turkish trucks carrying military vehicles driving to the border area. The private Ihlas news agency reported that the convoy was heading to southeastern Sanliurfa province from Kilis in the west. The base in the area is 30 miles from Syria’s Tal Abyad, a town controlled by the Kurdish militia.

The news agency said the relocation came after Turkish officials announced the completion of a phase of a Turkish cross-border operation in Syria, adding that the force may be used against Syrian Kurdish militants “if needed.”

Tensions in the border area rose last week when Turkey conducted airstrikes Tuesday against bases for the People’s Protection Units in Syria and Iraq. The Turkish military said it killed at least 90 militants and wounded scores. The Kurdish group in Syria said 20 of its fighters and media activists were killed in the strike, which was followed by cross-border clashes.

Erdogan hinted that his country is also ready to repeat its attacks in Sinjar, Iraq, to prevent it from turning into a base for the Kurdish militia.