Turkish artillery shell all Syrian Kurdish-held border cities

QAMISHLO, Syrian Kurdistan (Kurdistan 24) - Turkish artillery fired into Syria’s Kurdish-held border cities on Tuesday, causing casualties and significant damage, Syrian Kurdish authorities said.

In Syria’s predominantly Kurdish northeast city of Qamishlo, Turkish artillery early Tuesday morning fired two mortar shells on the Hileliyeh neighborhood near the border with Turkey.

The Kurdistan 24 team headed to the targeted area and reported two children had been wounded and several houses damaged.

Clashes erupted between Turkish border guards and fighters of the Syrian Kurdish People Protection Units (YPG). No casualties were reported.

Last night, the Syrian border towns of Amuda, Derik, and Sari Kani (known in Arabic as Ras Al Ayn), were shelled by Turkish artillery.

On the outskirts of Amuda, Turkish artillery fired six mortar shells on the villages of Hamdoun and Talmozan, eyewitnesses in the area told Kurdistan 24.

The bombardment significantly damaged dozens of houses in the two villages.

In Sari Kani, Turkish artillery fired three mortar shells on the neighborhoods of Hawarna, Mahatta, and Sawame.

Three civilians were wounded in the shelling, locals told Kurdistan 24.

In Derik, Turkish artillery targeted YPG positions in two villages around the town.

No YPG casualties have been reported up to date. The Kurdish authorities have not released any statements so far.

Turkey began its push to clear YPG fighters from a northwestern enclave of Syria on Saturday as it launched artillery and air strikes on the Kurdish fighters’ positions in Afrin in what Ankara has called “Operation Olive Branch.”

So far, dozens of civilians have lost their lives in the Afrin district, and dozens more were wounded.

Turkey considers the YPG a “terrorist organization” and has been opposed to the US’ support for the Kurdish fighters.

Washington, which is backing the YPG in the battle against the Islamic State (IS) in Syria, earlier this week expressed its concerns regarding the situation.

Editing by Nadia Riva