The Turkish Ministry of Defense announced the continuation of its military operations against what it called terrorists in northern Syria and Iraq, while Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar inspected today, Sunday, the units operating on the border with Iraq.
Meanwhile, a Kremlin spokesman confirmed the existence of differences with Turkey over Syria.
Anadolu Agency correspondent said that the Turkish Minister of Defense moved towards the Turkish-Iraqi border after a meeting with army leaders at the Ground Operations Command Center of the Land Forces Command in the capital, Ankara, on Saturday.
He explained that Akar arrived at Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi airport in the state of Hakkari, and moved, accompanied by the army commanders, to the command of the 3rd Infantry Division, adding that the Minister of Defense inspected the forces operating on the border strip with Iraq, accompanied by the army commanders.
Accompanying Akar on his visit, Chief of Staff Yasar Guler, commanders of the ground forces, Musa Avsaur, the navy, Argement Tatlioglu, and the air force, Atilla Golan.
Meanwhile, the "Hawar" agency, which is close to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), said that the Turkish army continues its violent bombardment with warplanes, drones, and heavy weapons on various regions of northeastern Syria.
The agency stated that the bombing targeted the "Menagh" airport in the countryside of Aleppo, the village of Ain Daqna in the al-Shahba region, and the village of Maraanaz in Afrin.
For its part, the media center of what is known as the Syrian Democratic Forces - which is dominated by the Kurdish People's Protection Units - stated that the Turkish forces launched strikes with missiles, mortars and tanks on the Euphrates, Ayn al-Arab (Kobani) and Tal Abyad with more than 400 mortar shells and tanks.
Russian dispute with Turkey
On the political front, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the existence of differences with Turkey over Syria.
Peskov said in an interview with the "Moscow, the Kremlin, Putin" program that the level of relations between the two countries and what he called political wisdom allow resolving all these differences through talks.
He added that resolving differences is possible through intensive, albeit long, talks, considering that "this level of understanding and mutual respect is really a good basis for discussing such difficult issues."
It is noteworthy that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had confirmed that his country is determined to fully secure the border line with Syria and make every inch of Turkey safe.
Erdogan also confirmed earlier that his goal of the military operations in northern Syria is to establish a "security belt from west to east" along the southern borders of his country.
Since last Sunday, Turkey has launched a series of air raids and artillery strikes on northeastern Syria and on sites of Kurdish fighters under the name "Operation Claw-Sword".