ERBIL — Turkish artillery units started shelling Afrin in Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava) on Friday, announcing the beginning of a military operation into the neighbouring country against the Syrian Kurdish forces.
“The operation has actually de facto started with cross-border shelling,” Turkish Defence Minister Nurettin Canikli said.
However, he said, no troops have so far crossed the border into the northern territories of Syria.
The shelling comes after days of threatening by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, vowing to hit Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) in Afrin.
The United States previously said it opposes the move, urging Ankara on focusing on the ongoing battle against the Islamic State (IS).