Turkish forces capture new areas in Syria amid assault against Kurdish forces

The Turkish forces on Sunday captured new areas in northern and northeastern Syria as part of the declared military assault against Kurdish forces, state news agency SANA reported.

People watch from Akcakale, Sanliurfa Province, southeastern Turkey, as smoke billows from fires on targets in Tel Abyad, Syria, caused by bombardment by Turkish forces, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019. [Photo: IC]

Turkish forces and allied Syrian rebels captured parts of the town of Tell Abyad in the northern province of Raqqa and stormed a position of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the area, said SANA.

The Turkish forces also captured a number of villages and towns in the countryside of Raqqa and the northeastern province of Hasakah as its military campaign entered its fifth day on Sunday, it added.

Among the areas and facilities captured by the Turkish forces was the Mabroukeh electricity station in the countryside of Ras al-Ayn area in Hasakah countryside, according to the report.

Meanwhile, the SDF emptied a displacement camp of its 10,000 residents following Turkish airstrikes that targeted the vicinity of the camp in the Ayn Issa area in the northern countryside of Raqqa, said SANA.

The SDF also set free women of Islamic State (IS) affiliations from the camp, SANA added.

As the Turkish campaign continued, as many as 280 SDF fighters deserted their positions in the northern countryside of Hasakah.

On Wednesday, Turkey started the military campaign in northern Syria to eliminate the SDF and its umbrella, the People's Protection Units, which are both deemed by Ankara as separatists and terrorists.

The Turkish operation also aims to create a safe zone in northern Syria and resettle millions of Syrian refugees.

It came after the withdrawal of the U.S. forces from northern Syria, which was seen as a sign of abandoning the Kurdish forces that are considered as Washington's allies in fighting the IS militants in Syria.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry has issued two statements since the beginning of the Turkish operation, accusing Ankara of targeting residential areas and causing deaths among civilians while holding the Kurdish forces responsible for the Turkish campaign.