MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On August 24, Ankara announced that Turkish forces, backed by US-led coalition aircraft, had begun a military operation dubbed Euphrates Shield to clear Jarabulus of militants from the Daesh, outlawed in Russia and many other countries. Syrian Kurds and Damascus accused Ankara of violating the territorial integrity of the Arab republic.
"The drama played by the Turkish regime through entering Jarabulus city, where it didn’t shoot fire a single bullet at ISIS [Daesh], rather it let ISIS join the Turkish army and enter Jarabulus is an evidence on the cooperation between the Turkish regime and ISIS," the ministry said in a statement, as quoted by SANA news agency.
Damascus said that any anti-terror activity on the Syrian land should be done through coordination with the Syrian government and the army.
At least 35 civilians died south of Jarabulus died as a result of the Turkish military operation, the Syrian ministry recalled, condemning the "repeated crimes" by the Turkish army.
Earlier in the day, Turkey's Prime Ministry Cooperation and Coordination Agency said that the Turkish forces had not intended to hit any civilian targets in Jarabulus.
