[Peace-discuss] Syrian Kurds to Target Turkish Jets Breaching Rojava Airspace

[David Johnson]

Syrian Kurds to Target Turkish Jets Breaching Rojava Airspace

 

 

Published 28 November 2015 

 

The Syrian Kurdish forces YPG said several Turkish warplanes have breached
the airspace of Syria's Kurdish region Rojava this week.

 

The Syrian Kurdish forces said it would be targeting any Turkish fighter
planes or helicopters that would breach the Syrian Kurdish region of Rojava
after reportedly two Turkish helicopters were seen flying over the region.

 

The threat was made by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), a group
that was threatened with airstrikes by the Turkish military on different
occasions over the past few months as part of Turkey's operation against the
Kurdistan's Workers' Party (PKK) which kicked off in July. Turkey claims
that the YPG has ties to the PKK.

 

"Two unidentified military helicopters were seen Tuesday night in Qamishli's
northern suburbs, specifically in Alyan area, flying over the oil-rich town
of Rumelan and the petroleum stations of Tel Adas (Gir Ziro) as well as the
village of Gir Ziyaret," the YPG's official spokesman Redur Khalil said in a
statement Wednesday according to the Kurdish Question website.

 

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"We, the YPG forces, warn if this irresponsible action (Turkish breach of
Syrian Kurdish airspace) were repeated, we will take the necessary
procedures to target any violation of such type."

 

Speaking to ARA News, an unnamed source confirmed that a Turkish helicopter
"breached the region's airspace almost three kilometers above Derona Aghe
village north of Chel Agha," in north of Syria.

 

The YPG has been an important force against the Islamic State group in
Syria. The Kurdish militia has secured several victories against the
extremist group, pushing back against offenses and taking control of
strategic strongholds of the Islamic State group.

 

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The announcement comes just days after Turkey downed a Russian fighter jet
that Ankara claims had breached Turkish airspace. Russian President Vladimir
Putin and his government have denied the allegations and said that downing
the jet would have "serious consequences".

 

Moscow and Ankara have both dismissed the possibility of further military
escalation, however, Russia has begun to implement response measures and
sanctions that would impact economic, tourism and diplomatic ties between
the two countries.

 

ANALYSIS: A History of the Turkish-Kurdish Conflict

 

This content was originally published by teleSUR

 

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