US official stresses protection of civilians, infrastructure in NE Syria
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – A US senior official from the House Foreign Affairs Committee stressed on Tuesday the need to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure in northeastern Syria.
Michael McCaul, Chairman of House Foreign Affairs Committee, told North Press, “I emphasize the importance of protecting civilians and civilian infrastructure,” in the region.
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.
“It is imperative that the U.S.-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS be able to focus on its vital mission,” McCaul said.
He further added, “I strongly discourage any actions which would detract or distract from that mission, including those which could threaten American troops.”
On Oct. 8, a Turkish airstrike targeted an Asayish center in Derik, far northeastern Syria, resulting in the killing of 29 members of the Anti-Drug Forces, affiliated with the Asayish, and the injury of 28 others.