Turkey hosts massive joint military drill

The Efes Live-Fire Military Drills, one of Turkey’s biggest military exercises, kicked off in the Aegean province of Izmir with the attendance of 21 allied countries. Dozens of fighter jets, tanks, armoured vehicles, attack helicopters, war ships, and special forces operators from across the world participated in the exercise which is aimed at developing the combined combat capabilities of Turkey’s military and regional partners. An exhibition also showcased Turkey’s newest locally produced weaponry, which defence industry representatives say is in demand from a number countries. And Turkish officials are hoping the successful conclusion of the exercise will highlight the country’s role as an emerging global defense industry supplier. The exercise hosted by the Aegean Army Command of the Turkish Armed Forces will be held in Seferihisar district of Izmir province until May 11.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turkish forces drive Kurds from Afrin

Turkish forces and their Syrian rebel allies swept into the northwestern Syrian town of Afrin, raising their flags in the town centre and declaring full control after an eight-week campaign to drive out Kurdish YPG forces.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turkish forces reach outskirts of Afrin

Turkish forces have reached the outskirts of the town of Afrin after a weeks-long campaign against a Kurdish militia in northwest Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitoring group said on Saturday, Reuters reports. Turkey and allied Syrian rebel groups it supports are advancing on the town from the east under intense bombardment, the Britain-based Observatory said. Ankara launched its offensive in the Afrin region on its border in January, aiming to drive out the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, which it sees as an extension of the PKK group that has fought a three-decade insurgency inside Turkey. On Friday, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said the Turkish army would soon enter Afrin. He also vowed to sweep Kurdish fighters from the length of the border.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turkish forces reach outskirts of Afrin town

Turkey and allied Syrian rebel groups it supports are advancing on the town from the east under intense bombardment, the Britain-based Observatory said. Ankara launched its offensive in the Afrin region on its border in January, aiming to drive out the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, which it sees as an extension of the PKK group that has fought a three-decade insurgency inside Turkey. During the campaign it has managed to gain control over all the Afrin region’s border areas with Turkey, including several small towns and a large number of villages.

Despite being rivals with the Syrian government and having clashed with the Syrian army at times in the war, the YPG has asked Damascus to help it repel the Turkish assault. Last month, pro-Syrian government militias entered Afrin region to back up the YPG, but their deployment did not deter Turkey despite the possibility of a wider escalation in the war, and it continued its campaign. Afrin is separated from a much larger area held by Syrian Kurdish forces further east along the border with Turkey, including large swathes of land captured from Islamic State with support from the United States. On Friday, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said the Turkish army would soon enter Afrin. He also vowed to sweep Kurdish fighters from the length of the border.

 

 

 

 

 

 

the funeral of Kurdish fighters killed during clashes against Islamic State in Syrian

Kurdish mourners shovel earth into a grave during the funeral of Kurdish fighters killed during clashes against Islamic State in the Syrian town of Kobani, at a cemetery in the southeastern town of Suruc, Sanliurfa province.

Syrian Kurdish refugee, cries on a hilltop on the outskirts of Suruc

Syrian Kurdish refugee Mohammad Hassan, from Kobani, cries on a hilltop on the outskirts of Suruc, Turkey, near the Turkey-Syria border. Kobani and its surrounding areas have been under attack by the Islamic State group since mid-September.

Turkish army tanks take position on top of a hill near Mursitpinar border crossing

Turkish army tanks take position on top of a hill near Mursitpinar border crossing in the southeastern Turkish town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province. A senior Kurdish militant has threatened Turkey with a new Kurdish revolt if it sticks with its current policy of non-intervention in the battle for the Syrian town of Kobani. Kurdish forces allied to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), the People’s Defence Units (YPG), are fighting against Islamic State insurgents attacking Kobani close to the Turkish border. Turkey is reluctant to open its border to allow arms to reach the out-gunned Kurds.

Turkish soldiers stand guard near Mursitpinar border crossing on the Turkish-Syrian border

Turkish soldiers stand guard near Mursitpinar border crossing on the Turkish-Syrian border in the southeastern Turkish town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province.

A Kurdish boy waves to other side of the Turkish/Syrian border at Suruc

A Kurdish boy waves to other side of the Turkish/Syrian border at Suruc where thousands of Syrians are fleeing to Turkey to escape the violence in their home country.

A Kurdish Syrian refugee is checked by security after crossing the Turkish-Syrian border

A Kurdish Syrian refugee is checked by security after crossing the Turkish-Syrian border near Suruc, Turkey.