More Turkish tanks enter Syria in new front
AFP, Ankara :
Turkey on Saturday sent more tanks into the northern Syrian village of al-Rai to fight Islamic State extremists, opening a new front after its intervention last month against the group, state media reported.
The tanks crossed into the village from the Turkish province of Kilis to provide military support to Syrian opposition fighters as part of Turkey’s “Euphrates Shield”, state-run Anadolu news agency said.
At least 20 tanks, five armoured personnel carriers, trucks and other armoured vehicles crossed the border after noon, Dogan news agency said.
Turkish Firtina howitzers fired on IS targets as the contingent advanced, Dogan said.
Euphrates Shield is Ankara’s most ambitious operation during the five-and-a-half-year Syria conflict, backed by the tanks as well as war planes and special forces providing support to rebels. The goal is to remove IS from its border and to halt the westward advance of the Kurdish People’s Protection Militia (YPG).
US President Barack Obama’s anti-Islamic State envoy Brett McGurk said on Twitter US forces hit jihadist targets overnight on Friday with a “newly deployed” mobile rocket system close to the Turkish border with Syria.
Turkey on Saturday sent more tanks into the northern Syrian village of al-Rai to fight Islamic State extremists, opening a new front after its intervention last month against the group, state media reported.
The tanks crossed into the village from the Turkish province of Kilis to provide military support to Syrian opposition fighters as part of Turkey’s “Euphrates Shield”, state-run Anadolu news agency said.
At least 20 tanks, five armoured personnel carriers, trucks and other armoured vehicles crossed the border after noon, Dogan news agency said.
Turkish Firtina howitzers fired on IS targets as the contingent advanced, Dogan said.
Euphrates Shield is Ankara’s most ambitious operation during the five-and-a-half-year Syria conflict, backed by the tanks as well as war planes and special forces providing support to rebels. The goal is to remove IS from its border and to halt the westward advance of the Kurdish People’s Protection Militia (YPG).
US President Barack Obama’s anti-Islamic State envoy Brett McGurk said on Twitter US forces hit jihadist targets overnight on Friday with a “newly deployed” mobile rocket system close to the Turkish border with Syria.
