ANKARA (Sputnik) — On August 24, Turkish forces, backed by US-led coalition aircraft, began a military operation dubbed Euphrates Shield to clear the Syrian town of Jarabulus and the surrounding area of Daesh terrorist group. Ankara also pledged to continue the operation until the threat allegedly posed by Kurdish militants active in the area is eliminated.
"We have seen that the PKK has stepped up its activities in the border region after July 15 [a failed coup attempt]. These actions, which had a clear aim of disrupting Turkey's military operation in Syria, are continuing, despite heavy losses, the most serous in its history… But the PKK will not succeed, the people are openly speaking against the organization," Erdogan said in a statement.
Tensions between Ankara and the Kurds escalated in July 2015 when a ceasefire between Turkey and PKK collapsed over a series of terrorist attacks, allegedly committed by PKK members.
