Russia expresses 'concern' over Turkish airstrikes on Syrian Kurds

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) - Russian Federation's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov expressed concern on Friday over Turkish airstrikes on Kurdish positions in Afrin, Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava).

"Syrian-Arab Republic - a sovereign state. It has full sovereignty over its airspace. With regard to the information on the incident with the Turkish Air Force in Syria - I understand that we are talking about strikes, populated by Kurds. We are very concerned by this," said Lavrov according to remarks carried by the semi-official Interfax news agency.

Lavrov reminded that Turkey is a member of the United States-led International Coalition against the Islamic State (IS) and called for focusing on fighting the IS and al-Qaida's Syrian franchise Jabhat al-Nusrah.

"They are the only two targets that the coalition has announced. I presume that the United States, as the leader of the Coalition, will do everything in order to stay within the stated objective," continued Lavrov.

The US State Department spokesperson had earlier told a Thursday press briefing that Turkish airstrikes "qualified as uncoordinated movements," and called for restraint.

Kirby also urged "all parties" to focus on fighting the IS.

Kurdish authorities had earlier on Thursday called upon the United Nations, the US and Russia to intervene and stop Turkish bombing and shelling "which also targeted civilians."

Turkish airstrikes on the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) began on Wednesday "just hours after" they liberated several villages from the Islamic State east of Afrin, according to Kurdish authorities' statement.

The YPG was pushing eastward for the IS-held city of al-Bab in northern Aleppo.

Turkish state media said up to 200 Kurdish fighters were killed in 18 airstrikes on 26 positions.

Editing by Ava Homa