"Despite the fact that the majority of the population left the war zone, the militants use their concubines and children in order to smuggle weapons hidden under their skirts and hijabs. Some fighters put on skirts and veils and join those groups. Our forces do not open fire on the groups of people that look like civilians, if there is not fire in our direction," the statement obtained by RIA Novosti read.
On August 24, the Euphrates Shield operation was launched by the Turkish army with the support of US-led coalition aircraft to clear the Syrian border town of Jarabulus and the surrounding area of the Islamic State jihadist group, outlawed in Russia and many other countries. Following the move, Syrian Kurds and Damascus accused Ankara of violating Syria's territorial integrity.
