Turkish incursion into Syrian Kurdistan is unacceptable

After days of bombing the enclave of Afrin, Turkish tanks made their way into Syrian Kurdistan this weekend. The N-VA finds it unacceptable that a member of NATO is attacking the Kurds, who are playing a crucial role in the fight against IS. “We will urge the Minister of Foreign Affairs to exercise maximum pressure on Turkey to cease hostilities,” the N-VA says.

With Operation Olive Branch, the Turkish Army has built up its presence along the Turkish-Syrian border in the last few days. Turkey says the ground offensive is intended to drive the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) out of the territory. In its own words, Ankara is targeting “the terrorists of the PKK, the YPG and Islamic State”. In the last 24 hours, it has been reported by various sources that 21 people, including six children, have been killed in the Turkish bombings and attacks in the region.

Peaceful solution necessary

“This is the latest in a long line of sad chapters in the bloody Syrian civil war,” says the N-VA. “It is intolerable for a member of NATO to attack the leading ally of the West in the fight against IS. We must call on all diplomatic channels, including via NATO, to stop the hostilities. There can only be room for peaceful solutions.”