By Mohamad Misto, Adham Kako and Levent Tok
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria / ANKARA (AA) – Italian troops are continuing their support in eastern Syria for the YPG/PKK terrorist group, according to local sources.
Sources in the province of Deir Ez-Zor told Anadolu Agency on Sunday that the Italian army sent 20 more soldiers to the area on Saturday evening.
According to the sources — requesting anonymity due to security concerns — Italian soldiers first traveled early this month from Iraq to the city of Al-Hasakah before heading to Deir Ez-Zor.
The soldiers were sent to the U.S. military base in the oil-rich Al-Omar region, the sources said.
The Italian soldiers, whose number is unknown, include military advisors who supported U.S. and French forces in anti-Daesh terrorist group operations.
To date the soldiers have not participated in any military operations against Daesh.
The Daesh terrorist group has been besieged in two separated border areas near the Iraqi border, particularly near Deir Ez-Zor and Al-Hasakah.
In May, the YPG/PKK, backed by the U.S. and France, began an anti-Daesh operation. However, no gains against Daesh have yet been made.
In its more than 30-year terrorist campaign against Turkey, the terrorist PKK has taken some 40,000 lives. The YPG/PKK is its Syrian branch.
