Clashes continue along Turkish-Syrian border

ISTANBUL

DHA Photo

Shooting continued in the evening hours of Aug. 1 along the Turkish-Syrian border by Ceylanpınar, with clashes between Kurdish forces and jihadists across the frontier in Ras al-Ayn continuing to affect the region, according to a recent statement by the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).

Clashes between the al-Nusra Front and the Democratic Union Party (PYD), the Syrian affiliate of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), erupted at around 8 p.m. on Aug. 1, breaking a few days of relative calm in Ras al-Ayn. The conflict then escalated overnight, creating an increased sense of tension in Ceylanpınar.

Turkish forces stated that the Cenkerser border station responded to shots coming from the Syrian side by firing infantry and machine-gun volleys. Some 15 shots were fired by Turkish officers with the infantry rifle, as well as 25 more with the machine gun, according to the TSK.

Conflict on Syrian territory has frequently spilled into Turkey over the past few months, with the most recent incident occurring on July 28 when dozens of stray bullets fired during clashes between al-Nusra militants and Kurdish fighters loyal to the PYD in Ras al-Ayn hit houses and offices in Ceylanpınar. 

A farmer identified as Mahmut Özgen was injured on Aug. 1 when a stray bullet over the border hit him in the right leg. Özgen was immediately taken to Ceylanpınar State Hospital to receive treatment. 

Clashes between the PYD and jihadists fighting the secular government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have flared since Kurds began asserting control over parts of northeastern Syria late last year.