ANKARA, Nov 20 The Turkish Ministry of Defense reported the destruction of 89 targets during the air operation in northern Syria and Iraq, all the air assets of the army returned to their places of permanent deployment.
Earlier, the Turkish Ministry of Defense reported that Ankara was conducting an air operation against the Syrian wing of the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in northern Syria and in northern Iraq. The representative of the Kurdish «Syrian Democratic Forces» (SDF) Farhad Shami said earlier that Turkey is attacking the border town of Kobani in northern Syria, which is under the control of the SDF.
«The air operation was successfully carried out in the areas of Qandil, Asos, Khakurk in northern Iraq and the areas of operation Tel Rifaat, Sisire and Derik in northern Syria, which were used by terrorists as bases for attacks on our country. During the air operation, 89 targets were destroyed , 81 in the first phase and eight this morning, consisting of shelters, bunkers, caves, tunnels, ammunition depots and the so-called headquarters and training camps of terrorists threatening our country, our people and the security of our borders, and many terrorists have been neutralized, «- according to the message of the military department.
It is reported that «among the terrorists neutralized as a result of the operation, there are the so-called leaders of a terrorist organization (the PKK banned in Turkey).
«After the operation, in which domestic ammunition was used to a large extent, all our aircraft returned safely to their bases,» the message says.
«The Turkish army carried out more than 25 air raids on Sunday morning, targeting the bases and positions of the PKK and YPG self-defense units … As a result of the attacks, 32 fighters of the PKK and YPG forces were killed, and there are wounded,» Shafaq news agency reported, citing a statement from the Iraqi Kurdistan Anti-Terrorism Service. .
In turn, the ANHA agency reported the death of its correspondent and 10 more citizens as a result of attacks on the cities of Derik (al-Malikiya), Zarkan, Kobani and others in northern Syria. Six citizens were injured, including a correspondent for the local Sterk TV channel.
The attacks were carried out on targets in the provinces of Al-Hasakah, Aleppo, Raqqa and in the area of the city of Kobani in northern Syria, as well as in a number of regions of the Kurdish Autonomous Region in northern Iraq.
The head of the Turkish Ministry of Internal Affairs, Suleiman Soylu, reported suspicions that an indication of a terrorist attack in the center of Istanbul last week came from Kobani, and the perpetrator entered Turkish territory through the city of Afrin. A week ago, an explosion occurred on the pedestrian Istiklal Street in the center of Istanbul, killing six people and injuring 81. The suspected terrorist was detained, she confessed to having links with the PKK. Damascus has repeatedly called illegal and called on Ankara to withdraw its troops. With the support of the US military, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is based on the YPG self-defense units, control most of the Syrian provinces of Al-Hasakah and Raqqa, as well as some settlements in the provinces of Aleppo and Deir ez-Zor. In particular, most of the quarters in the cities of Al-Hasakah and Qamishli are under their control. Official Damascus does not recognize an autonomous administration in northeastern Syria.