Erdogan says he won’t stop shelling Syrian Kurds

17 February 2016, 2:49 pm Edit

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is vowing Turkey will not allow the creation of a Kurdish stronghold in northern Syria, saying there was no question of Turkish forces stopping their bombardment of Syrian Kurdish fighters.

“We will not allow a new Qandil on our southern border” with Syria, Erdogan said in a televised speech in Ankara, referring to the mountain in northern Iraq which for years has been stronghold of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants.

“They (the West) tell use to stop shelling” the Kurdish fighters in Syria, Erdogan said after Turkey hit their positions for four days in a row. “Forgive me, but there is no question of us doing such a thing.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses a joint press conference with Yemen's president at the presidential complex in Ankara on February 16, 2016. (AFP / ADEM ALTAN) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses a joint press conference with Yemen’s president at the presidential complex in Ankara on February 16, 2016. (AFP / ADEM ALTAN)

Alarmed by the advances of Syrian Kurdish forces in Aleppo province near the border, Ankara has in recent days bombed their positions, defying international calls for a halt to the strikes.

— AFP