Turkish Army Dispatches Elite Forces to Northern Syria to Join Operation against Kurds

The Turkish-language state-run Anadolu news agency reported that 200 Turkish elite forces that are expert in street battle and defusing explosive traps, landmines and bombs have been dispatched to Afrin region together with trained dogs.

Its went on to say that more convoys, including 20 armored vehicles, anti-land mine vehicles and a large volume of arms and ammunition have been dispatched to the border town of Kilis.

Anadolu added that another military column, consisting of several tanks has been dispatched to Hatay region at the border with Syria as well.

Reports said on Friday that the Kurdish officials in Afrin urged Damascus to send troops to protect Syria’s sovereignty from the Turkish occupier.

Ankara insists it will return the enclave to its “original owner” after its “liberation” from terrorists.

The self-administrated, Kurdish-held enclave in Northern Syria issued a plea for help to the Syrian government on Thursday, reiterating its commitment to the integrity of the country.

“We reaffirm that the Afrin region is an integral part of Syria and that our forces are the people’s protection units,” it wrote in a statement, arguing that the Turkish military operation in Afrin “threatens the territorial integrity of Syria and the security and lives of the civilians.”

While the Kurdish units will continue to repel the Turkish military offensive and resist attempts by the Turkish forces to overrun the city, the central Syrian government must dispatch its own forces to “protect its borders with Turkey from attacks of the Turkish occupier,” the Kurdish authorities suggested as “Olive Branch Operation” went into its sixth day.