Invasion of northern Syria: Turkey continues offensive against Kurdish militias

The Turkish military has continued its offensive against Kurdish militias in northern Syria during the night. In a Tweet of the Ministry of Defense in Ankara from it was said, "the heroic soldiers" advanced with the "Operation Peace Spring" in the east of the river Euphrates.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the start of the long-planned military campaign on Wednesday afternoon via Twitter. According to activists, at least 15 people were killed during the first hours of the Turkish attacks. Among the eight civilian casualties were two children.

The application meets with international criticism. Governments and institutions call for an immediate stop. On Thursday, the UN Security Council wants to deal in New York with the actions of Turkey. Germany had requested on behalf of the five EU member states of the Council - next to Germany, Poland, Belgium, France and Great Britain - that the issue be addressed in a meeting, it was said from diplomatic circles.

The aim of the offensive is the Kurdish militia YPG, which controls a large area on the Syrian side of the border. Turkey sees in it an offshoot of the banned Kurdish workers' party PKK in Turkey and thus a terrorist organization. It wants to set up a so-called security zone along the border and to settle there Syrian refugees who currently live in Turkey.