Turkey reinforces military units on Syrian border

KİLİS

Turkey has increased its military presence along its southern border against threats from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (YPG) in war-torn northern Syria.

Artillery was dispatched to the southern border province of Kilis to reinforce units there late on Aug. 4. 

The six-vehicle convoy included tanks and howitzers to be positioned across YPG-controlled Syrian region of Afrin, Doğan News Agency reported. 

Turkey has been vehemently opposed to the presence of YPG in northern Syria. The country considers YPG a terror group linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). 

While Ankara regards the YPG a terrorist group, Washington considers it as the main fighting force on the ground in Syria against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).