Damascus calls on UN to compel Turkish withdrawal from Afrin
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The Syrian regime in Damascus called on Turkey to pull its “invading” forces out of Afrin, demanding the United Nations assist in bringing about a Turkish withdrawal.
“As part of the crimes committed by the Turkish army forces, including the ethnic cleansing policy, the properties of the citizens have been looted, their homes destroyed and many of them were detained,” Syria’s Foreign Ministry stated in letters sent to the UN Secretary General and the head of the UN Security Council (UNSC), state-run SANA reported on Monday.
“While Syria condemns the Turkish aggression and calls on the Turkish invading forces to immediately withdraw from the Syrian territory, it demands UNSC to assume its responsibilities and stop such aggression and work for the withdrawal of the Turkish regime forces,” the letters continued.
Damascus has repeatedly condemned Turkey’s military action within Syrian borders and in February sent militias to Afrin to help protect the borders.
Afrin city came under Turkish control on Sunday, two months into Turkey’s Operation Olive Branch. Ankara has framed its offensive as a counter-terror operation, taking the position that the Kurdish groups in Rojava, northern Syria, are branches of the PKK. The Kurdish groups deny the charge.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated on Monday that they are not invading Syria.
“Our intention is not to invade, but to carry out operations to cleanse terrorists and eliminate terrorist threats to our country,” he said.
The governor of Turkey’s Kilis province, on Afrin’s northern border, said on Monday that Kurdish groups in Afrin had fired 48 rockets into Kilis throughout Operation Olive Branch.
“Thirty-two of them directly targeted mosques, schools, hospitals, restaurants, and housings,” said Governor Mehmet Tekinarslan, Anadolu Agency reported, killing two civilians and wounding 38.
The armed Kurdish YPG has denied firing across the border into Turkey.
Egypt’s Foreign Ministry on Monday issued a statement condemning the Turkish “occupation” of Afrin, saying it further complicates the situation in Syria and endangers the lives of civilians.
The ministry reasserted Egypt’s stance in support of a political solution to the Syrian crisis within the framework of a united, independent Syrian state.
“As part of the crimes committed by the Turkish army forces, including the ethnic cleansing policy, the properties of the citizens have been looted, their homes destroyed and many of them were detained,” Syria’s Foreign Ministry stated in letters sent to the UN Secretary General and the head of the UN Security Council (UNSC), state-run SANA reported on Monday.
“While Syria condemns the Turkish aggression and calls on the Turkish invading forces to immediately withdraw from the Syrian territory, it demands UNSC to assume its responsibilities and stop such aggression and work for the withdrawal of the Turkish regime forces,” the letters continued.
Damascus has repeatedly condemned Turkey’s military action within Syrian borders and in February sent militias to Afrin to help protect the borders.
Afrin city came under Turkish control on Sunday, two months into Turkey’s Operation Olive Branch. Ankara has framed its offensive as a counter-terror operation, taking the position that the Kurdish groups in Rojava, northern Syria, are branches of the PKK. The Kurdish groups deny the charge.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated on Monday that they are not invading Syria.
“Our intention is not to invade, but to carry out operations to cleanse terrorists and eliminate terrorist threats to our country,” he said.
The governor of Turkey’s Kilis province, on Afrin’s northern border, said on Monday that Kurdish groups in Afrin had fired 48 rockets into Kilis throughout Operation Olive Branch.
“Thirty-two of them directly targeted mosques, schools, hospitals, restaurants, and housings,” said Governor Mehmet Tekinarslan, Anadolu Agency reported, killing two civilians and wounding 38.
The armed Kurdish YPG has denied firing across the border into Turkey.
Egypt’s Foreign Ministry on Monday issued a statement condemning the Turkish “occupation” of Afrin, saying it further complicates the situation in Syria and endangers the lives of civilians.
The ministry reasserted Egypt’s stance in support of a political solution to the Syrian crisis within the framework of a united, independent Syrian state.