Turkey shelling in northern Syria kills 29 PYD militia, local commander says

Turkish shelling has killed at least 29 members of the PYD, the Syrian branch of the terrorist PKK organization, in Syria's Azaz district located in the northern countryside of Aleppo, a Turkmen commander said Sunday.

Zakariyya Karsli, commander of Jabhat Shamiya, an umbrella organization of Syrian rebel groups opposing to Bashar Assad regime, confirmed the PYD causalities to Anadolu Agency.

Turkish troops have been shelling PYD positions in Azaz since Saturday.

Out of the 29 killed, 10 died in Mannagh town, 12 in Maranas town, seven in Maryamin town, Karsli added.

The PYD is the Syrian branch of the terrorist PKK organization which has targeted security forces as well as civilians in Turkey since 1984.

On Sunday morning, Turkish army continued to shell PYD positions, military sources said. Artillery fire could also be heard in Kilis.

Turkish military sources added that several positions of YPG -- PYD's armed wing -- had been destroyed and terrorists also reportedly suffered casualties.

Azaz in Aleppo province has been the scene of recent heavy fighting and the YPG have advanced to Azaz -- just six kilometers (four miles) from the Turkish border.