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Merkel 'strongly condemns' Turkish military offensive in Afrin

WION Web Team
Delhi, IndiaUpdated: Mar 21, 2018, 01:22 PM IST
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File photo. Photograph:(Reuters)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday criticised Turkey's military offensive in Syria's Afrin. Merkel also condemned the ongoing attacks by Syrian forces in eastern Ghouta, near Damascus.

The German government condemned the air strikes on eastern Ghouta "in the strongest terms", Merkel spoke in the Bundestag lower house of parliament. She lashed out at the Bashar al-Assad-led forces and blamed Russia for "just watching" the events unfold.

She described Turkey's actions as unacceptable despite its security interests. "I'm also condemning this in the strongest terms," Merkel added.

Meanwhile, Turkey and the United States have reached an understanding, but not full agreement, about stabilising the town of Manbij and other areas of Kurdish-controlled northern Syria, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Wednesday.

Turkey, which on Sunday stormed the northern Syrian town of Afrin after a two-month offensive against the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, has repeatedly threatened to push its operations further east to Manbij where US troops are stationed.

(With inputs from Reuters)