Turkish shelling of Syrian Kurds continues backing for Islamic State: representative

Published by Ekurd 29 February 2016

MOSCOW,— Turkish artillery is maintaining its support for the Islamic State (IS) forces, a leader of Russia’s Kurdish community said on Monday.

“More than 10 people, mostly women and children, have been killed over the past day. A group of up to 100 gunmen trespassed from Turkey into Syria near the city of Raqqah,” Farkhat Patiyev, chairman of the Council of the Federal National-Cultural Autonomy told TASS.

“They were supported by artillery fire from Turkey. By morning on February 28, Kurdish self-defense forces managed to drive the gunmen from the town of Tell Abyad. However, the ban on movement is still in place for civilians for security reasons. Combat operations are not over,” he added.

A ceasefire regime brokered by Russia and the United States on February 22 officially came into effect in Syria at midnight Damascus time on Saturday. This does not cover terrorist groups such as Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra, both outlawed in Russia.

With heavy artillery support from Turkish territory Islamic State fighters attacked the town of Gire Spi (Tel Abyad) in Syrian Kurdistan which is controlled by the Syrian Kurdish YPG Kurdish People’s Protection Units YPG militia at the Turkish border as well as the nearby town of Suluk on Saturday. The YPG has repelled the attack, Russia, Kurds and monitors reported.

Turkish military sources have denied reports that Turkey hit Syrian Kurdish YPG positions in Gire Spi across the border, hurriyet daily news reported.

The YPG captured Gire Spi from IS last year in an offensive backed by U.S.-led air strikes.

Last October Syria’s Kurds have incorporated a Gire Spi into Syrian Kurdistan.