Turkish military denies sending tanks to Syria

The Turkish military has rejected claims that its tanks entered the Kurdish area near Qamishli in northern Syria to form a new line of defense, saying such allegations are baseless and do not reflect reality.

The Hurriyet daily reported on Sunday, based on sources close the military, that Turkish military officials denied Kurdish claims that a number of tanks had crossed the Turkey-Syria border about 150 meters from Qamishli in an attempt to change the border in favor of Turkey.

The military sources told the Hurriyet daily such claims are unfounded and that there are no Turkish tanks in Syrian territory.

The Turkish military said there is ongoing work to restore border checkpoints and stones demarcating the border. While working, some of the heavy construction machinery might have crossed over the border by just a few meters, the military said, but denied claims of entering Syrian territory more than that.

• The reports come at a time when the Syrian Kurdish militia has extended its reach to west of the Euphrates, an issue that had been regarded as a red line for Ankara. 

The Turkish authorities warned the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) not to progress west of the Euphrates or risk facing a Turkish military in response.
 todayszaman.com
27/12/15
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