Turkish defense minister Ismet Yilmaz says that the country has no plans to send troops to Syria amid reports that some Turkish soldiers entered the war-torn country. The Syrian government made the claim in a letter of protest sent to the UN Security Council and warned that Kurdish fighters will receive a retaliation if the group extends its presence in the border.
Syria's Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem warned that entry to Syria by foreign troops will be sent in "wooden coffins." Business Standard reported. Allegations has been made amid rumours that Saudi and Turkey are planning a ground intervention in Syria.
The Syrian government believed that some of the armed men that entered the country last Saturday were members of the Turkish forces. In an operation to supply insurgents in Damascus, 100 gunmen who entered the country rode 12 pick-up trucks mounted with heavy artillery.
The Telegraph reported that Turkish military shelled Kurdish YPG fighters after the group seized a former military airbase and drove the Syrian rebels near the Turkish border.
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Monday that they will not allow the Kurdish fighters to seize the Syrian town of Azas. He warned that Kurdish militia will face the "harshest reaction" if they try to take control of the town, Reuters reported.
The Turkish government want the YPG fighters to stay away from the border because they fear that it will encourage separatist movements among Kurds. The government also reacted on recent remarks by the U.S. State Department that encourages the country to work with the Kurds in dealing with Islamic State militants who have put majority of Syria under siege.
The Turkish government does not trust the YPG and considers it as a terrorist group. YPG has been fighting for autonomy in southwest Turkey for more than three decades. Meanwhile, the U.S. think otherwise as it supports the group in its bid to fight Islamic State rebels in Syria.
