Turkey will continue to respond to YPG attacks in Syria, PM Davutoğlu tells Merkel

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu told German Chancellor Angela Merkel that Turkey will not let the YPG to continue its aggressive activities in northern Syria.

During a phone conversation on Sunday, the Turkish premier told Merkel that Turkish security forces will continue to give necessary response to the PYD or the YPG attacks in Syria.

On Saturday, Turkish military shelled YPG targets near the town of Azaz in northern Syria under the rules of engagement, in response to two separate attacks carried out by YPG and Assad forces on a Turkish military base and a police station.

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said on Saturday that YPG is engaged in an ethnic cleansing against Arabs and Turkmens in the region in cooperation with the Assad regime and added that the group must immediately leave Azaz and its surroundings.

Davutoğlu reiterated that Turkey will respond to any development that threatens the country's national security and will not allow any powers to harass Turkish borders.

Meanwhile, the Syrian regime has condemned Turkey's shelling of PYD held areas inside Syrian territory, describing it as an attempt to raise the morale of "terrorist" groups.

The regime, which Turkey accuses of cooperating with both the PYD and Daesh in its crimes against the people of Syria, urged the Security Council to stop Turkey's violations.