Turkey bombs more US-ally positions in Syria; FSA joins the conflict on Turkey's side

Free Syrian Army members keep guard on a bulwark to take action in the nearby city of Afrin for expected Afrin operation against the PYD/PKK targets, in Aleppo, Syria on January 19, 2018 [Emin Sansar / Anadolu Agency]

Turkish war planes bombed Syrian Kurdish militia YPG and PYD targets in Kurdish-controlled Afrin, a senior Turkish official told Reuters on Saturday.

Two hours ago, at 14.00 GMT today, the Turkish military launched “Operation Olive Branch”, with the stated aim to “…establish security and stability on our borders and region, to eliminate terrorists of PKK/KCK/PYD-YPG and Daesh, and to save our [Syrian] friends and brothers… from their [ the terrorists’] oppression and cruelty.”

Direct military action against territory held by Kurdish militia opens a new front in Syria’s civil war and sees Ankara confronting Kurds allied to the United States at a time when Turkey’s relations with Washington are reaching breaking point.

Turkey’s army said earlier it had hit shelters and hideouts used by militants from three groups – the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), PYD and YPG, after militants fired on Turkish positions inside Turkey.

The Free Syrian Army has also started to support the Turkish military in Afrin, the official said.

Read: Despite US warning, Turkey shells Syria’s Kurdish-held Afrin region

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said earlier on Saturday that a military operation in the Afrin region had begun after cross-border shelling by the Turkish army.

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces accused Turkey on Saturday of using cross-border shelling as a false pretext to launch an offensive in Syria.

The SDF, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias fighting Daesh, said it would have no choice but to defend itself if attacked. The Kurdish-led SDF controls swathes of north and east Syria.

BREAKING: Russia moves troops out of Afrin, as Turkey steps up it’s bombing on US-allied militia

Smoke rises after Turkish jets destroyed observation posts and many other targets of PYD/PKK as part of the ‘Operation Olive Branch’ in Afrin, Syria on January 20, 2018 [Onur Çoban / Anadolu Agency]

Smoke rises after Turkish jets destroyed observation posts and many other targets of PYD/PKK as part of the in Syria on January 20, 2018 [Onur Çoban / Anadolu Agency]

Smoke from explosion is seen after Turkish jets destroyed observation posts and many other targets of PYD/PKK as part of the ‘Operation Olive Branch’ in Afrin, Syria on January 20, 2018 [Stringer / Anadolu Agency]

Free Syrian Army units head towards the areas, held by PYD/PKK, on January 20, 2018 in Kilis, Turkey [Kerem Kocalar / Anadolu Agency]

A photo take from a Azaz town where the Syrian opposition members wait to take action in the nearby city of Afrin for the expected Afrin operation against the PYD/PKK targets, in Aleppo, Syria on January 19, 2018 [Emin Sansar / Anadolu Agency]

People hang Turkish flags in Sugedigi neighbourhood of Hassa district in Hatay, Turkey on January 19, 2018. Ten busses carrying commandos to reinforce the border units arrived in Hatay [Cem Genco / Anadolu Agency]

HATAY, TURKEY – JANUARY 19: Deployed Turkish Army tanks to reinforce the border units are seen in Hatay, Turkey on January 19, 2018. ( Cem Genco – Anadolu Agency )

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