Turkey shells Syria's Afrin region, minister says operation has begun
Source: Reuters
Turkish artillery fired into Syrias Afrin region on Friday in what Ankara said was the start of a military campaign against the Kurdish-controlled area.
The cross-border bombardment took place after days of threats from Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to crush the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia in Afrin in response to what Turkey sees as growing Kurdish strength across a wide stretch of north Syria.
The operation has actually de facto started with cross-border shelling, Turkish Defence Minister Nurettin Canikli said, adding that no troops had crossed into Afrin.
Direct military action against territory held by Kurdish militia would open a new front in Syrias civil war and would see Ankara confronting Kurds allied to the United States at a time when Turkeys relations with Washington are reaching the breaking point.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-turkey/turkey-shells-syrias-afrin-region-minister-says-operation-has-begun-idUSKBN1F80XX
If only the USA had a government at the moment you could trust to make sensible decisions.