ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The Syrian government has condemned the shelling of Kurdish forces along the border, describing the action as a violation of its sovereignty. Damascus called on the UN Security Council to take action against Turkey, saying in a letter: "Turkish artillery shelling of Syrian territory constitutes direct support to the armed terrorist organizations,” Turkish artillery shelled Kurdish forces advancing north of Aleppo for the second day on Sunday. Syria’s letter to the UN accused Turkey of allowing "Turkish soldiers or Turkish mercenaries" numbering 100 to cross into Syria,” saying it “will maintain its legitimate right to respond to the Turkish crimes and attacks and to claim compensation for the damage caused.” But the United States and others back the Kurdish militia in Syria, the YPG, in its fight against the so-called Islamic State (IS) group. Syria has accused Turkey of violating its sovereignty by backing "al-Qaeda-linked terrorists" in the north and has warned it has a right to respond. Turkey demands that Kurdish forces of the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) pull back from territory they have captured in the last few days near Azaz, but the YPG refuses to abandon their gains, arguing that Islamist forces will retake the area. On Sunday Washington and Paris urged Turkey to stop shelling Syrian Kurds whom they find an ally against the Islamic State (ISIS).
