Turkish jets and artillery have reportedly pounded the village of Tilemarne, south of Jarabulus, targeting Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) positions.
According to Russian news portal Sputnik Türkiye, Turkey hit the village with planes and artillery on Saturday morning.
Abdulaziz Yunus, a representative for the Syrian Democratic Forces including the YPG, told Sputnik news that Turkey targeted a village in southern Jarabulus. While the bombardment was heard in Turkey’s Karkamış district, there seemed to be heavy air traffic in the region as well.
Turkey hit YPG targets in Jarabulus last week; however, Yunus argued that there are no YPG forces in southern Jarabulus. In addition, PYD Europe representative Zuhat Kobani, who talked to Sputnik, was critical of Turkey’s offensive, arguing that it violated the territorial integrity of Syria. According to Kobani, Turkey wants to become the sultan of the Arabs after the passage of five centuries.
Syrian rebels backed by Turkish special forces, tanks and warplanes entered Jarablus, one of the last strongholds of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) on the Turkish-Syrian border, on Aug. 24.
Meanwhile, Free Syrian Army (FSA) forces are detonating land mines near the Syrian border planted by ISIS following Operation Euphrates Shield.
The FSA forces are reported to be concerned about a possible car bombing attack by ISIS in retaliation for the takeover of Jarabulus. Ambulances are carrying FSA fighters wounded in clashes during the operation to hospitals in Turkey.
Following the clearing of explosives from the town, Turkey has been working to the open the Karkamış border gate, which has been closed for over two years.
The deployment of logistical equipment of the Turkish military to Karkamış is continuing as tanks and armored vehicles are moved into the region.
Turkish aid organization Red Crescent has established mobile kitchens to deliver hot meals to nearly 5,000 people in the Jarabulus area.
