US concerned about military activity in north Syria – Department of State
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – US Department of State said on Tuesday they remain worried about military escalation in northern Syria which affects civilian population and infrastructure and their operations against Islamic State (ISIS) cells.
Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson, said in press briefing they remain “concerned about military activity in northern Syria, its impacts on the civilian population and infrastructure, and the impact on the effectiveness of our operations to ensure the lasting defeat of ISIS.”
From Oct. 5 to Oct. 9, 172 sites in areas and cities in north and northeast Syria were struck by Turkish airstrikes, shells, and drone attacks, targeting residential areas, military posts and infrastructure, including oil fields, gas plants, power stations, and others, according to the Monitoring and Documentation Department of North Press.
The strikes took place following a statement by Turkey’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hakan Fidan, in which he threatened to strike a broader range of targets in Syria and Iraq in retaliation for the Ankara attack.
On Oct. 1, two individuals carried out a bomb attack in front of the building of the Ministry of Interior in Turkey’s Ankara injuring two police officers.
On Oct. 4, Fidan claimed that the two attackers had been trained in Syria. “From now on, all infrastructure, large facilities and energy facilities belonging to (armed Kurdish groups) in Iraq and Syria are legitimate targets for our security forces,” he threatened.
Miller reiterated that US’ position has not changed and will continue to “support the current ceasefire lines and call for a de-escalation of violence.”
He called on all parties to “maintain and respect ceasefire zones and to de-escalate violent activity to enhance stability in Syria and work toward a political solution to the conflict.”
Following the Turkish strikes, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke on the phone with Turkish Minister of Defense Yasar Guler and urged de-escalation in the region and “the importance of maintaining strict adherence to de-confliction protocols and communication through established military-to-military channels.”