Turkey’s military was ready to “support” Syria in its battle with Kurdish fighters in the northwestern city of Aleppo if Damascus asks for help, a defense ministry official said Thursday.
“Turkey supports Syria’s fight against terrorist organizations,” the official told reporters, saying Ankara was “closely monitoring” developments in the north.
“Should Syria request assistance, Turkey will provide the necessary support,” he said, echoing a long-standing offer by Ankara to extend military support to its allies in Damascus.
On Wednesday, the Syrian military began shelling two neighborhoods in Aleppo after ordering all Kurdish fighters to leave the area following clashes that forced thousands of civilians to flee.
Deadly clashes erupted this week between Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Defense Forces (SDF) after the two sides failed to reach a year-end deadline to merge the Kurdish fighters into the main Damascus military. (AFP)
