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Page 1 — Syrian state media reports Turkish attack

Page 2 — Erdoğan: Afrin should not be burned down

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According to Syrian state television, Turkish military has shot Syrian forces in Afrin. The Turks would have bombarded an area from which government-related combatants were advanced into Kurdish enclave, report said. An explosion was seen in government-oriented TV channel Al Mayadeen. It was a Turkish attack, broadcaster reported. The official Turkish news agency Anadolu later reported on "warning shots", and "government-loyal terrorist groups" would have withdrawn about ten kilometers from Afrin city.

Turkey had warned Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad of such an escalation: if y move forward to Kurdish enclave in norrn Syria, Turkish Foreign minister threatened to do so on Monday. A day later, Syrian state television showed around 20 vehicles laden with heavy machine guns, which arrived from nearby village of Nubul in Afrin. Armed on vehicles waving Syrian flags and praising government of Assad.

The Syrian Human Rights Observatory, close to opposition, said that a convoy of hundreds of government-loyal fighters had reached region controlled by Kurdish People's Defence Units (YPG) in afternoon. The YPG confirmed arrival of Syrian government forces in Afrin. This was to help defend YPG from "unlawful invasion" of Turkish troops, said a militia spokesman.

The situation in Syria Source: IHS Conflict Monitor, New York Times. Last update: February 5, 2018. Graphic: Matthias Holz/Time online

The YPG had asked for help from Syrian troops. On Monday, both sides agreed on cooperation. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had tried to stop same day: he was on phone with Russia's President Vladimir Putin, closest partner of Assad. After interview, Erdoğan shared that alliance between YPG and Syrian army ceased to exist. A stationing of Syrian troops in Afrin had been averted. Shortly reafter, Syrian media reported that first fighters were on ir way to Afrin.

Almost a month ago, Turkish government launched an offensive on Kurdish enclave of Afrin. Its aim is to expel Kurds militia YPG from region. Turkey designates YPG as a terrorist organisation. She sees in militia Syrian offshoot of banned Kurdish Workers ' Party PKK. The US, on or hand, had supported YPG as allies in fight against "Islamic State" terrorist militia. The relationship between two NATO partners, USA and Turkey, is refore tense.

Date Of Update: 21 February 2018, 12:03