Kurdish Forces Charge Turkey with Heightened Aggression at Border, Call for Local Defense
Click to start listening
Damascus, Dec 19 (NationPress) The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Thursday accused Turkish troops and their allied factions of escalating assaults near Syria's border city of Kobani.
The SDF reported that Turkish forces and their "mercenaries" initiated a full-scale offensive on Wednesday, targeting the southern outskirts of Kobani, particularly in the vicinity of the Tishreen Dam.
According to the group, their fighters successfully repelled the assault by nightfall, yet Turkish drones and artillery continued to bombard various areas of Kobani. Furthermore, Turkish military reinforcements, including tanks and armored vehicles, were reportedly gathering along Syria's northern border.
The SDF underscored its endorsement of recent US-led efforts aimed at de-escalation and the positive outcomes of the Aqaba meeting, which took place on December 14, focusing on initiatives to cease combat operations in Syria.
However, the militia urged the international community to adopt a "clearer and firmer" stance against the escalation from Turkey, calling on Arab nations and other concerned countries to condemn what it described as "an ongoing campaign to seize Syrian territory."
"We do not seek further conflict, but we will not hesitate to defend our people and our land," the militia warned, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
The SDF also encouraged residents in Kobani to take up arms and unite against any attempts at invasion.
"Every village and corner of Kobani can become a fortress of resistance," it stated, cautioning that there would be no "picnic" for any invading forces.
Ankara has consistently regarded the SDF with suspicion due to its connections with Kurdish militants operating within Turkey.
