The EU parliament has called on Turkey to end its military operations in norrn Syrian region around Afrin. The Turkish government should withdraw its troops and make a constructive contribution in Syria conflict, it says in a resolution which parliamentarians in Strasbourg adopted by a large majority. “The weapons must remain silent, in Ostghuta as in Afrin,” said Green deputy Barbara Lochbihler.
if ( typeof AdController !== ‘undefined’ !window.Zeit.isMobileView()) { if ( !document.getElementById( ‘iqadtile8’ ) ) { var elem = document.createElement( ‘div’ ); elem.id = ‘iqadtile8’; elem.className = “ad ad-desktop ad-desktop–8 ad-desktop–8-on-article”; elem.setAttribute(‘data-banner-type’, ‘desktop’); document.getElementById(‘ad-desktop-8’).parentNode.appendChild(elem); AdController.render(‘iqadtile8’); if ( window.console typeof window.console.info === ‘function’ ) { window.console.info(‘AdController ‘ AdController.VERSION ‘ tile 8 desktop’) } } } if ( typeof AdController !== ‘undefined’ window.Zeit.isMobileView()) { if ( !document.getElementById( ‘iqadtile3’ ) ) { var elem = document.createElement( ‘div’ ); elem.id = ‘iqadtile3’; elem.className = “ad ad-mobile ad-mobile–3 ad-mobile–3-on-article”; elem.setAttribute(‘data-banner-type’, ‘mobile’); document.getElementById(‘ad-mobile-3’).parentNode.appendChild(elem); AdController.render(‘iqadtile3’); if ( window.console typeof window.console.info === ‘function’ ) { window.console.info(‘AdController ‘ AdController.VERSION ‘ tile 3 mobile’) } } }
Since 20 January, Turkish army has been Afrin with heavy weapons against Kurdish militia YPG. The Ankara government sees militia as a spin-off of banned Kurdish Workers ‘ Party PKK, which is considered a terrorist organization. As early as February, EU Parliament had condemned Turkish operation Olive Branch against YPG in norrn Syria.
Within one day, more than 30,000 civilians fled city from military. According to Syrian Human Rights Observatory, y fled to villages of Nubul and Sahra, which are located in an area controlled by Syrian government units.
Turkey does not want to give control of Afrin
Turkey announced that it would not return norrn Syrian city of Afrin to rulers in Damascus after taking a take. Afrin will be “very soon” conquered, said a spokesman of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to StaatlichenSender TRT.
The EU external representative Federica Mogherini had spoken before deputies on Tuesday of a “dramatic renewed escalation of military activities” in Syria. She referred to Afrin and Ostghuta. The UN Security Council also wants to discuss situation in areas.
In a telephone call with Angela Merkel on occasion of her re-election, Erdoğan informed Federal Chancellor of offensive, reported state news agency Anadolu. Merkel and Erdogan would have become acquainted with dialogue between two States. Erdoğan also stressed need for a joint fight against terrorist organisations. Erdoğan has repeatedly accused Germany of not being vigorous enough to tackle PKK.
if ( typeof AdController !== ‘undefined’ !window.Zeit.isMobileView()) { if ( !document.getElementById( ‘iqadtile4’ ) ) { var elem = document.createElement( ‘div’ ); elem.id = ‘iqadtile4’; elem.className = “ad ad-desktop ad-desktop–4 ad-desktop–4-on-article”; elem.setAttribute(‘data-banner-type’, ‘desktop’); document.getElementById(‘ad-desktop-4’).parentNode.appendChild(elem); AdController.render(‘iqadtile4’); if ( window.console typeof window.console.info === ‘function’ ) { window.console.info(‘AdController ‘ AdController.VERSION ‘ tile 4 desktop’) } } } if ( typeof AdController !== ‘undefined’ window.Zeit.isMobileView()) { if ( !document.getElementById( ‘iqadtile4’ ) ) { var elem = document.createElement( ‘div’ ); elem.id = ‘iqadtile4’; elem.className = “ad ad-mobile ad-mobile–4 ad-mobile–4-on-article”; elem.setAttribute(‘data-banner-type’, ‘mobile’); document.getElementById(‘ad-mobile-4’).parentNode.appendChild(elem); AdController.render(‘iqadtile4’); if ( window.console typeof window.console.info === ‘function’ ) { window.console.info(‘AdController ‘ AdController.VERSION ‘ tile 4 mobile’) } } }
The rebel-dominated area of Ostghuta, near Syrian capital of Damascus, has been experiencing strongest attacks of Syrian armed Forces for more than three weeks. Since beginning of fighting in mid-February, 1,200 civilians have died in bombing.
Thousands of civilians fleeing
Thousands of civilians fled region alone on today’s Thursday to areas controlled by government forces. Pictures of state television showed men, women and children, who were on outskirts of town of Hammurije on positions DerArmee. They wore blankets, bags and suitcases on denSchultern. More than 12,500 people left Hättendie enclave, Human Rights Observatory shared. The Islamist rebel group Fajlak al-Rahman had lost city to regime’s army.
The situation in Syria Source: IHS Conflict Monitor, New York Times. Status: 5 February 2018. Graphic: Matthias Holz/Time online
In war of Army and allied militiamen against population, a UN report according to soldiers systematically raped thousands of women. But even rebels and opponents of regime had raped many women, but this was not a systematic war strategy. The report is based on 454 interviews with survivors, eyewitnesses and physicians and refers to period from 2011 to end of 2017.
Despite Turkish participation in war, Germany still supplies arms to state. As a request from left Bundestag group to government revealed, in first half weeks of Turkish operation Olive Branch against YPG 20 export licences for German armaments worth 4.4 million euros were issued. This is much more than in comparison with previous year.
