News / Syria

Turkish forces, allied militants shell town in northeastern Syria

Monday, 19 October 2020 3:19 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 19 October 2020 3:19 PM ]

The file photo, taken on October 28, 2019, shows Turkish soldiers at a position east of Ras al-Ain, northeastern Syria. (By AFP)

Turkish forces and allied Takfiri militants have reportedly shelled residential areas in the countryside of Syria’s northeastern province of Raqqah.

Syria’s official news agency SANA reported on Monday that the shelling took place in Ain Issa, which lies near the border with Turkey.

In recent months, the militants, who have maintained heavy presence in vicinity of the border areas with Turkey, have launched frequent attacks on Syrian infrastructure, residential areas and agricultural land.

Raqqah is one of the regions with militant-controlled areas where security conditions have been jeopardized in the recent past.

In September, the United Nations urged Turkey to launch an immediate and independent investigation into war crimes and other violations of international law committed in northern Syria – a region mainly under the control of Turkish forces and allied militant groups.

Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that the situation in those areas of Syria was grim, with violence and criminality rife.

UN warns of 'war crimes' in Turkish-occupied areas in northern Syria

The United Nations urges Turkey to investigate possible war crimes carried out by its allied militant groups in northern Syria.

On October 9, 2019, Turkish forces and Ankara-backed militants launched a long-threatened cross-border invasion of northeastern Syria in a declared attempt to push Kurdish militants affiliated with the so-called People’s Protection Units (YPG) away from border areas.

Ankara views the YPG, which is supported by the White House, as a ‘terrorist’ organization tied to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

In a separate incident, the Kurdish-led militants of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which enjoy Washington’s support, kidnapped civilians in Raqqah and Dayr al-Zawr countryside apparently for forced recruitment.

Local sources told SANA on Monday that houses were raided in the town of Tabqah.

To the north of Raqqah City, militants kidnapped three civilians in Sakir village.

The White House has long been providing the SDF with arms and militants. Washington says they are a key partner in the purported fight against the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group.

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