Turkey says Kurdish militia work with Assad's forces in Aleppo's north

Record ID: 76367

  • Title: Turkey says Kurdish militia work with Assad's forces in Aleppo's north
  • Date: 8th December 2016
  • Summary: ANKARA, TURKEY (DECEMBER 8, 2016) (REUTERS) TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESMAN, IBRAHIM KALIN WALKING IN FOR WEEKLY BRIEFING REPORTERS TAKING NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESMAN, IBRAHIM KALIN, SAYING: "The attack on our soldiers near al-Bab (on November 24) was carried out by Syrian regime. This is the information we have. This shows the true intentions of Syrian regime on Aleppo, Al-Bab and elsewhere in Syria. We are talking about a regime that carries out state-terrorism." CAMERAMAN FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESMAN, IBRAHIM KALIN, SAYING: "Unfortunately, Syrian forces are working together with YPG (People's Protection Units) and PYD (Democratic Union Party) in northern Aleppo, particularly with the group moving down from Afrin." MORE OF REPORTERS TAKING NOTES AND LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESMAN, IBRAHIM KALIN, SAYING: "What happens in Aleppo is the final phase of the humanitarian tragedy that has been going on for five years. The indifference and apathy among the international community brought us here. But we are determined to end hostilities in Aleppo, deliver humanitarian aid and ensure the political transition no matter how difficult the conditions will be. We will continue to hold intense diplomatic talks with Russia, Gulf countries, United States and Europe regarding this matter." MORE OF REPORTERS TAKING NOTES KALIN LEAVING WEEKLY BRIEFING
  • Embargoed: 23rd December 2016 13:21
  • Keywords: Turkey Syria Aleppo conflict Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin
  • Location: ANKARA, TURKEY
  • City: ANKARA, TURKEY
  • Country: Syria
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015C0XZ5Z
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said on Thursday (December 8) the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia was working together with the forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the north of Aleppo province.
    Kurdish-led forces in northern Syria have been backed by the United States in their fight against Islamic State, but Ankara views the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia and its political wing PYG as hostile groups tied to the Kurdish militants who have fought Turkey for three decades.
    Kalin also said Syrian regime was behind an air strike that killed three Turkish soldiers and wounded 10 others near al-Bab.
    Four Turkish soldiers were killed and nine others were wounded in an air strike at the end of November during a Turkish-backed rebel operation in northern Syria.
    Asked about efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Aleppo, Kalin said Turkey has conducted the "most intense" talks to help end the hostilities in the war-ravaged city.
    "The indifference and apathy among the international community brought us here. But we are determined to end hostilities in Aleppo, deliver humanitarian aid and ensure the political transition no matter how difficult the conditions will be," he said.
    Damascus and Russia, which supports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, have called on rebels to withdraw from Aleppo, disarm and accept safe passage out, a procedure carried out in other areas where rebels abandoned besieged territory in recent months.
    Rebels called for a truce and civilian evacuations, but to areas of opposition control such as the northern Aleppo countryside, amid fears the government would immediately arrest men crossing from rebel-held territory.
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