The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) bombed a Turkish military base near the border with Syria on Friday evening.
Several rockets fell at the base in Turkey’s Kilis province near the Bab Al-Salama border crossing, said a correspondent for The New Arab’s Arabic sister site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.
The rockets came from SDF-controlled areas in Aleppo province in northern Syria.
Turkish forces deployed in Aleppo province responded by bombing sites controlled by the SDF and the Syrian regime, including in the vicinity of Tel Rifaat city, the correspondent reported.
Turkey has been threatening for months to launch a ground offensive against Kurdish fighters in Tel Rifaat and other areas in Syria’s north.
The Turkish defence ministry tweeted that it suffered no damage or losses and responded by bombing the sites from which the rockets were launched.
It estimated 11 “PKK/YPG” members were “neutralised”, referring to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG).
The PKK, which seeks autonomy or independence for Turkey’s Kurdish minority, has for decades battled against the Turkish state. The YPG, which Ankara alleges is the Syrian wing of the PKK, is the main component of the SDF.
Media outlets close to the SDF also said Turkey targeted several villages with a total of more than 45 shells.
Source: The New Arab
