Kurds: Turkey Repeatedly Opened Fire on YPG Fighters in Northern Syria

Erdogan Blasts Kurdish Expansion Into ISIS Territory

Kurdish forces from the People’s Protection Units (YPG), and Free Syrian Army forces who were fighting along side of them reported they came repeatedly under fire from Turkish soldiers across the border into Tel Abyan, a town the Kurds recently seized from ISIS, and absorbed into the Kobani canton.

According to the forces on the ground, they repeatedly came under brief machine gun fire from the Turkish side of the border, but did not return fire on the Turkish soldiers. Turkey has not directly addressed this report, but did hint at their involvement.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan blasted the YPG for its recent gains in his comments, vowing “Turkey will do whatever is necessary” and accusing the YPG of being secretly in league with ISIS, despite having taken the territory directly from ISIS.

Turkey has long opposed the growth of the YPG, and complained bitterly about US and Russian support for them against ISIS, Turkey appears to believe a larger YPG territory will add to secessionist sentiments in southeastern Turkey, where the Turkish military is carrying out a war against Kurdish separatists.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.