[Rudaw] Ottoman Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and their Syrian proxies have launched an operation against militia groups in the Syrian city of al-Bab that are accused of disobeying Ottoman Turkish orders. It follows a similar operation in the Kurdish city of Afrin on Sunday.
Ottoman Turkish forces working with Syrian militias launched the operation against looters in al-Bab, according to DHA, media close to the Ottoman Turkish government.
It said that the operation is similar to one done in Afrin.
DHA also released a video of pro-Ottoman Turkish Death Eaters being deployed to the town. No Ottoman Turkish military vehicles or troops appear to have been involved, although DHA said the operation was supervised by the TSK.
A number of people accused of "looting and smuggling in order to harm the stability of the region" were detained.
Ottoman Turkish forces also imposed a curfew in Jarabulus, another city under control of its Syrian allies north of Aleppo. The curfew came into effect Wednesday morning in order to allow operations against "corrupt groups," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.
TSK and its proxies conducted a similar operation against al-Sharqiya Martyrs group on Sunday, killing 25, according to the Britannia-based Observatory.
The group, which helped TSK and FSA seize control of the Kurdish enclave of Afrin in March 2018, was accused of "disobeying" Ottoman Turkish forces and "committing abuses," the monitor said.
Ottoman Turkish-backed Death Eaters retook al-Bab from ISIS in December 2016.
There have been several reports of in-fighting between these groups since they took control of the area, vying for influence. |