Syrian Kurds believe clashes with Turkish troops inevitable, consider Turkish operation as occupation
MOSCOW. Aug 24 (Interfax) - The Syrian democratic forces supported by the U.S.-led coalition believe that clashes with Turkish troops are inevitable if those troops continue their attack on the Syrian city of Jarabulus, the representative of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) in Moscow, Abd Salam Ali, said.
"The Turkish operation is a pure occupation of the neighboring country. Naturally, we will stand against [it]. Our leadership will be considering appropriate measures," he told Interfax.
"If the Turks continue to advance into the territory of Syria, then the Kurds will certainly clash with them. If they expand their presence, it will be inevitable," Ali said.
Ali emphasized that the fight against ISIL (a terrorist organization outlawed in Russia) is simply a pretext for Turkey's offensive on Jarabulus.
"They [the Turks] knew that the expulsion of ISIL from Jarabulus was a question of time for the Syrian Democratic Forces. They obviously want to stop the Kurds from taking Jarabulus," Ali said.
Ali also dismissed Turkey's allegations that the country enjoys the support of the U.S.-led coalition.
"The Turks announced that the airplanes of the U.S.-led coalition help them, but actually, it isn't so. On the contrary, they support the Syrian Democratic Forces and it was in their plans that they are going to give us further support," Ali said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Ankara launched an operation to clear from militants the city of Jabulus in northern Syria, Turkish media said. Turkish artillery conducted massive strikes on the city during its operation and Turkish tanks were brought closer to the Turkey-Syria border. Turkish tanks have crossed the border now and begun shelling ISIL sites, a correspondent of Turkey's Hurriyet newspaper said.