Turkey claims strikes on Syria ‘terror groups’

State TV said Saturday that Daraya was clear of gunmen, and is under the control of the Syrian army. Turkey on Wednesday sent tanks across the border to help Syrian rebels retake the key Islamic State-held town of Jara.

Turkey’s military didn’t specify what the airstrikes hit, saying only that “terror groups” were targeted south of the village of Jarablus, where the clashes later ensued. The group claimed to have captured two Kurdish fighters. It is the first reported Turkish fatality in Syria.

The SDF includes the powerful Kurdish YPG militia, one of the stated targets of Turkey’s intervention in the Syrian war. Ankara views the PYD and the militia affiliated with it, which forms the backbone of the US -backed Syria Democratic Forces, or SDF, as an extension of the Kurdish insurgency that is raging in southeastern Turkey.

There was no immediate comment from the Syria Democratic Forces, the USA -backed Kurdish-affiliated forces. Kurdish groups have already declared a semi-autonomous administration in Syria and control most of the border area.

Jeb el-Kussa is located 14 kilometres (almost nine miles) south of Jarabulus and is controlled by fighters from the area backed by Kurdish forces. Turkey is a leading backer of the rebels fighting to overthrow Syrian President Bashar Assad, but both Ankara and Damascus share concerns over Kurdish ambitions for autonomy. They are now pushing their way south.

Turkey sent tanks across the border to help Syrian rebels capture Jarablus from the Islamic State group, and to contain Kurdish-led forces.

The media office of the Turkish-backed Nour el-din el-Zinki rebel group said the Syrian rebels were backed by Turkish tanks.

Turkey’s military said Sunday its warplanes killed 25 Kurdish “terrorists” and destroyed five buildings used by the fighters in response to attacks on advancing Turkish-backed rebels in the Jarablus area. Turkish officials could not immediately be reached for comment. Turkish authorities blamed Kurdish militia for the death.

The Observatory said the SDF-allied Jarablus Military Council fighters had withdrawn from the villages of al-Amarna and Ayn al-Bayda as the rebels backed by Turkish tanks advanced into them.

On Sunday, Turkish forces ramped up their offensive, with Turkish warplanes and artillery pounding areas held by pro-Kurdish forces close to a town liberated from IS this week.

Turkey is part of the US -led coalition fighting the militants of the Islamic State group, but the airstrikes that began Saturday marked the first time it has targeted Kurdish-led forces in Syria. He said the bombing also targeted the village of Amarneh. Turkish leaders have vowed to drive both IS and the Kurdish People’s Protection Units, or YPG, away from the border. Turkey says the Kurds must withdraw to the east of the nearby Euphrates River. But following the Turkish offensive, local forces with Kurdish fighters and backed by YPG advisers pushed their way north of Manbij, in a rush for control of Jarablus.

Aleppo has been caught in a bloody circle of violence, with rebels and government forces each promising to unite the divided city. It has been besieged for months with only intermittent global aid deliveries getting through. “All must put the civilian population of Aleppo first and exert their influence now”, de Mistura said in a statement, urging an approval by Sunday.

But the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 40 civilians were killed in strikes on two areas – the first report of significant civilian casualties since the start of operation “Euphrates Shield”.

Hospital officials in rebel-held Aleppo say the death toll from the two barrel bombs dropped Saturday in the Bab al-Nairab neighborhood is likely to rise. Minutes later, Khandakani said another barrel bomb was dropped, injuring an ambulance driver, and hampering rescue efforts. The group blamed Russian and Syrian joint military operations room for the use of such weapons in violation of worldwide law. The government denies it uses barrel bombs.

It also follows the evacuation of Daraya, a Damascus suburb, as part of a deal struck between the government and rebels after a bombing campaign and siege.

The declaration Saturday comes only a day after the evacuation of almost 5,000 residents and fighters from the suburb began.