Sputnik- US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert has previously urged Turkey not to engage in any invasion of Syria's Afrin.
According to�Turkis DHA news agency, 20 buses with�fighters from�the Ankara-backed Free Syrian Army have crossed from�Turkish Kilis into�Syrian territory and are moving toward�Azaz. However, no official confirmation has followed so far.
An operation in�Syria's Afrin has started "de facto" with�cross-border shelling, however, no troops have been deployed in�the city,�Turkish Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli said in�an interview with�the Haberturk broadcaster.
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�SO Kilis'ten otob�slerle s?n?r? ge�ti
19.01.2018
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The minister noted that the operation was "right to�self-defense in�line with�international law," adding that the country was conducting all necessary preparations for�the upcoming operation aimed at�destroying all "terrorist corridors."
Turkey is consulting with�Russia to�bring closer approaches to�the operation of�the Turkish army in�Syria's Afrin, the top official said, however, the Russian Defense Ministry has yet to�comment on�the situation.
"We are preparing for�an operation in�Afrin, we are taking the necessary steps for�this. We are coordinating with�Russia and other interested countries of�the region, their views should be brought closer to�our position since�this operation will ultimately be carried out," Canikli said.
High-Precision Weapons to�be Used in�Afrin Op
The statement comes amid�a report by�the Turkish�Haberturk newspaper, saying that the Turkish forces were planning to�use high-precision weaponry during�the military action.
According to�the media outlet, the Turkish Joint Staff has reviewed the plan of�the operation, leaning toward�the strategy of�conducting combat in�urban settings. Turkish forces are reportedly planning to�use aviation and missiles with�laser aiming devices as, according to�the�command, the militants will carry out�combat from�organized defensive positions in�quarters of�the town.
The newspaper further noted that the final decision on�the use of�the Turkish Air Force would be based on�the results of�a meeting between�Turkish Armed Forces general�Hulusi Akar and his Russian counterpart Valery Gerasimov. If Russia gives its consent, Turkish aircraft will be able to�use the entire airspace above�the town. Otherwise, the Turkish military will have to�use laser-guided missiles and UAVs.
'Terrorist Army'
Turkey has been threatening to�launch an operation in�Afrin since�last week after�the US announced its decision to�start training a border protection force composed of�the the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, which has been described by�Ankara as�a "terrorist army."
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said earlier this week that Ankara was holding consultations with�Moscow and Washington over�a possible operation in�Syria's Afrin against�Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara considers a to�be associated with�the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
The minister further noted that�Turkey considered US claims on�the undesirability of�a military operation in�Syria's Afrin "empty and senseless."
"We heard the assessment of�the US State Department regarding the operation in�Afrin. This is an empty and senseless claim, because the threat of�IS [Daesh] is over," Canikli told the broadcaster.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said earlier in�the day that Ankara would target the PKK, which is banned as�a terrorist organization in�Turkey, not the Kurds in�general.
Reaction
On Thursday, US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert urged Turkey not to�engage in�any invasion of�Syria's Afrin.
The remark echoed a statement made by�US Secretary of�State Rex�Tillerson, who also assured that the US had no intention to�build a Syria-Turkey border force, saying the issue, which has incensed Ankara, had been "misportrayed."
However, according to�the Pentagon, despite�the fact that it is not a "new army,"�Turkey's security concerns are "legitimate."
Damascus, in�its turn, has vowed to�destroy Turkish aircraft if they attack.
"We warn the Turkish leadership that if they initiate combat operations in�the Afrin area, that will be considered an act of�aggression by�the Turkish army," Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Meqdad told reporters.