"Turkey is increasing the number of its Syrian military bases north of Aleppo, as part of the preparation to surround the city of Afrin"

Turkey is increasing the number of its Syrian military bases north of Aleppo, as part of the preparation to surround the city of Afrin, controlled by Kurdish forces, Rezan Hiddo, the chairman of the Syrian Democratic Council, which includes the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), told Sputnik.

On July 7, the Syrian Foreign Ministry said that the Turkish Armed Forces violated all international laws and the UNSC resolutions while invading some areas on the Syrian territory and conducting military operations there.

"As part of the preparation for an operation in Afrin, Turkey is building its military bases in the region. According to our information, over the past two weeks, Turkey has created military bases in the Mare, Azaz, and Tel Cibrin districts adjacent to Afrin. The Turkish military, heavy weapons and equipment were deployed there. Earlier, the Turkish Armed Forces placed its bases near Al Bab, Jarabulus, Sawran and Akhtarin," Hiddo said.

According to Hiddo, Turkey gradually increases its military presence in the war-torn country and the Turkish forces conduct regular shelling of the territory near Afrin.

Afrin is located in the province of Aleppo and belongs to the de facto autonomous region of Rojava, proclaimed by the Kurds in the north of Syria. Turkey has repeatedly bombed Kurd positions and hideaways in northern Syria and considers the Syrian Kurdish associations to be a wing of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), outlawed in the country.

