Upheaval in Syria
Activists: Heavy fighting near Kobane in northern Syria
The situation in Syria remains confusing even after the fall of ruler Bashar al-Assad. Fighting continues in the north. Kurds fear a major Turkish offensive.
According to activists, heavy fighting between pro-Turkish forces and Kurdish militias continues in northern Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that there are still violent clashes, particularly around the city of Kobane, not far from the border with Turkey.
Fighters from the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) and allies were trying to take control of Kobani, it said. Turkish drones were also used in the fight with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The SDF confirmed the fighting.
According to the Observatory, there have also been Turkish drone attacks in the area around Raqqa. There are also said to have been victims.
Turkey is accused of wanting to use the power vacuum in Syria to destroy the areas in the north of the country that are under the administration of Kurdish militias. The Kurds and the SDF are supported by the United States. While the SDF is an important partner for the USA in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) in Syria, Turkey sees the militia as an offshoot of the banned Kurdish Workers’ Party PKK – and therefore a terrorist organization.
dpa
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
