Turkey has called on Russia to prevent the Syrian regime forces from targeting Turkish-controlled areas in northern Syria.
Ballistic missiles were fired from the Syrian government-run Kuweires airbase in Aleppo and struck al-Bab and Jarablus towns, Turkey’s Defense Ministry said in a statement on Monday.
The raid “targeted civilian settlements and fuel tankers … civilians were wounded,” the ministry added in a tweet.
“After the firing started in the [Operation] Euphrates Shield area and civilians were targeted, a notification was sent to the Russian Federation side to stop the shooting and the determined targets were put under fire,” the ministry stated.
Turkish troops in the region “have been alerted” and the developments are being followed, it added.
In response, the Turkish base stationed in Jabal Aqeel, in the vicinity of al-Bab city, targeted government forces positions in Nubl, Zahraa, and Tadef towns, east of Aleppo.
Separately, Turkish intelligence agents have captured a senior figure from the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), the largest component of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) coalition, which Ankara considers an extension of the “banned” Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Ibrahim Babat, described by Turkish state news agency Anadolu as a YPG “brigade commander,” was caught during an operation inside Syria while he was driving in an unspecified location.
He was brought back to Turkey, the agency said, adding that he provided information on plans to attack Turkish military posts on the Turkey-Syria border.
Hand-made explosives, landmines, and electric detonators were seized in Babat’s possession to be used in later attacks on the Operation Peace Spring area, it added.
The Kurdish figure joined the PKK/YPG in 2011, started with his activities in rural areas in Iraq before moving to Syrian in 2017, where he was promoted in the group.
