Pro-government Syrian forces enter Afrin

Syrian state TV showed about 20 vehicles with heavy machineguns mounted on them entering Afrin
Tuesday, 20 February 2018 17:48

Pro-government Syrian fighters have started entering the northern Kurdish-controlled enclave of Afrin where Turkish troops have been on the offensive for a month.

Syrian state TV showed about 20 vehicles with heavy machineguns mounted on them entering Afrin from the nearby village of Nubul. Scores of gunmen were on the vehicles waving Syrian flags and chanting pro-government slogans.

Syrian Kurdish YPG militant group confirms Syrian troops entered Afrin to deploy along border with Turkey and help defend enclave.

Syrian state media reported that Turkish forces had shelled the fighters after they entered Afrin region to help ward off a Turkish attack. "Turkish regime forces targeted the locations of popular forces with artillery fire as they arrived in the Afrin region," SANA reported.

Turkish state-run Anadolu news agency reported that Turkish artillery had fired warning shots and forced the Syrian fighters back before they reached Afrin.

But Syrian television showed them passing through a checkpoint that bore the insignia of the Kurdish security force, some chanting "one Syria, one Syria", and driving further into the enclave.

Syria's government will face consequences if it reaches an agreement with the Kurdish YPG militants against Turkey's military operation, Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan was quoted as telling Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call on Monday.

Details to follow