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At least 17 civilians were killed on Sunday when the U.S.-led coalition launched airstrikes at a mosque in Syria's eastern Deir Ez-Zour province.
Local sources told Anadolu Agency that the airstrikes were carried out in the Daesh-held Hejjin district on the eastern outskirts of Deir ez-Zour city.
The airstrikes targeted a mosque in Buhatir village, killing 17 civilians, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons.
In November, at least 17 civilians, mostly women and children, were killed when a U.S.-led coalition shelled the village of Albo Badran near the Daesh-held town of Al-Sousse.
Previously in the same month, The coalition forces targeted the same area, killing 20 civilians.
Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected ferocity.
The Syrian military opposition has vowed support for a planned Turkish military operation against the YPG/PKK terrorist group east of the Euphrates River.Spokesman Ayman al-Asimi said the Syrian opposition was ready to fight against YPG/PKK terrorists who occupy regions east of the Euphrates."The [planned Turkish] military operation east of the Euphrates is a continuation of the Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch Operations, which brought safety and stability to the Syrian people,” he said in a statement on social media.“It is an operation that will maintain the integrity of Syria," he stressed.Al-Asimi said the YPG/PKK terrorist group was a “source of international terrorist threat” that blocked efforts to reach a political solution to the conflict in Syria.He went on to call on the international community to take side with the Syrian opposition and Turkey against the terrorist group.On Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that within days Turkey would launch an operation in Syria, east of the Euphrates, near Turkey’s borders, to clear the region of YPG/PKK terrorists.That operation would follow two successful Turkish operations since 2016 to foil the formation of a “terror corridor” along Turkey’s border.In a message to the Syrian Free Army and National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces (SMDK), U.S. officials have warned the Syrian opposition against backing the Turkish operation."Any participation by the Syrian National Coalition or the Free Syrian Army in any way is an attack on the United States and the Coalition Forces, and it will lead to direct confrontation with Coalition Forces and the United States of America. That will fully destroy the relations between the United States and the Syrian National Coalition and the Free Army," read the message."When elephants dance, you must stay away from the dance floor," the U.S. officials said.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including women and children. The YPG is its Syrian branch.*Ali Murat Alhas contributed to this story from Ankara.
Syrian opposition vows support for Turkish op east of Euphrates
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Sunday reiterated Turkey's firm stance against Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorism in Syria.Erdoğan, speaking at an inauguration ceremony of the July 15 National Park in Esenler district of Istanbul, said Turkey is burying terrorists inside the trenches that they dig and will continue to do so in the future.Turkey will soon launch an operation in the east of the Euphrates to liberate the region from the PKK terrorist organization, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced on Wednesday.A mission east of the Euphrates, which Turkey’s leadership has been suggesting for months, would follow two successful cross-border Turkish operations into Syria since 2016 – Operation Euphrates Shield and Operation Olive Branch – both meant to eradicate the presence of YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists near Turkey’s borders.Turkish army ‘neutralizes’ 10 PKK terrorists in N IraqTurkey hopes to completely wipe out PKK terror group, says DefMinDuring his speech, Erdogan also warned opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu against inviting people to hold demonstrations similar to 2013 Gezi Park protests.“Mr. Kemal, you cannot make anybody to take to the streets. Let me tell you something: Here is neither Paris nor the Netherlands,” he said.In the summer of 2013, a relatively small demonstration in Istanbul’s Gezi Park grew into a nationwide wave of protests against the government that left eight protesters and a police officer dead.Since Nov. 17, thousands of protesters wearing bright yellow vests -- dubbed the Yellow Vests -- have been gathering in major French cities, including the capital Paris, to protest Macron's controversial fuel tax hikes and the deteriorating economic situation.During demonstrations, at least four people have been killed and more than a thousand others wounded.Also in the Netherlands, Yellow Vest protesters took on Saturday to the streets in 16 cities, including the capital Amsterdam, the Hague and Rotterdam, upon calls made on social media by far-right groups.They protested against the government's policies on retirement age, costly health and education services and migration issue.
PKK/PYD terrorists in Syria will be buried in trenches they dig: Erdoğan
At least four people were killed in a car bombing in Syria’s northwestern Afrin province on Sunday, according to Anadolu Agency reporter.Twenty other people were injured in the attack that targeted a marketplace in the area, the correspondent said.Video: Car bombing kills four in Syria’s AfrinSecurity forces have sealed off the attack scene with rescuers from the White Helmets civil defense agency rushing to the area to provide help to the injured.Meanwhile, security forces thwarted another car-bomb attack in the area.There was no claim of responsibility for Sunday’s attack.Seven civilians had been killed and dozens injured in terrorist attacks in Azaz and Euphrates Shield Operation regions earlier this week.Turkey on Jan. 20 launched Operation Olive Branch to remove YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin.On March 18, Turkish troops and Free Syrian Army members liberated the town of Afrin, on the 58th day of the operation.Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in 2011 when the Bashar al-Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected ferocity.
Car bombing kills four in Syria’s Afrin