New Delhi:
Amid Turkish offensive in Northern Syria, a Pentagon spokesman on Friday said that US troops near the northern Syrian border came under artillery fire from Turkish positions. The spokesperson warned that US was prepared to meet aggression with “immediate defensive action.” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey will not stop its operation against Kurdish militants in northern Syria, dismissing what he called "threats" from other countries. "It doesn't matter what certain people say, we will not stop," Erdogan said in a speech in Istanbul.
Moreover, the US military confirmed an explosion around 9 pm (1800 GMT) which was not very far from its post near the town of Kobani in an area “known by the Turks to have US forces present.”
Turkey has launched a ground offensive targeting the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which has been a key US ally in the battle against the Islamic State group. The SDF lost almost 11,000 fighters in the US-led campaign.
US President Donald Trump has come under severe criticism for his decision to call US troops back or providing no resistance to the Turkish forces.
Also Read: Death Count Rises As Turkish Forces Push Deeper Into Syria
However, Navy captain Brook DeWalt said in a statement said, “All US troops are accounted for with no injuries. US forces have not withdrawn from Kobani.”
“The United States remains opposed to the Turkish military move into Syria and especially objects to Turkish operations outside the security mechanism zone and in areas where the Turks know US forces are present,” DeWalt added.
