For more than two weeks now, the Kurdish region of Afrin, in northern Syria, has been in the crosshairs of the Turkish army. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's troops have launched an offensive against local militias, giving rise to particularly violent clashes. Ankara's objective: to prevent the Kurds — regarded as bitter enemies and potential terrorists — from consolidating their hold over the territory and, one day, establishing a state of their own.

Erdogan on a visit to Italy and the Vatican

The operation — named "Olive Branch" — is in full swing while the Turkish leader is visiting Italy (a meeting with the Pope at the Vatican is scheduled for today). In the meantime, in Sochi, on the shores of the Black Sea, attempts are being made to discuss a peace process that the Kurds have decided not to take part in, precisely because of the offensive being waged against them by Turkey. The population has indeed been living under the bombs of fighter jets sent by Ankara for days.

erdogan, turchia — Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan © Kayhan Ozer/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the areas of Rajo and Jandairis have been particularly hard hit. Raids have also been reported in the city of Afrin itself, the regional capital. The NGO has already spoken of dozens upon dozens of deaths among Kurdish fighters, in addition to more than sixty civilians killed, including at least twenty children (even though Turkey has stated that it is focusing exclusively on military targets).

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In Afrin, hundreds of young Syrian Kurds have enlisted in the 'resistance' movement against a Turkish-backed assault u.afp.com/ooHz

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The indirect clash between Turkey and the United States

What convinced Erdogan to launch the attack was the announcement of the creation of a "border force" by fighters of the YPG — the Kurdish People's Protection Units militias — which for years have been a key ally for the international coalition present in Syria (led by the United States) with the aim of defeating Islamic State militants. It is no coincidence that at the numerous demonstrations organised across Europe in recent days in support of the Kurdish cause, the YPG's crucial role in the battle against terrorism has been highlighted.

Ypg Curdi Siria Kobane — Two female YPG fighters in an image from 2015 © Ahmet Sik/Getty Images

For Ankara, however, preventing the minority from gaining territorial autonomy remains a priority. Erdogan has indeed stated that "the offensive will not stop until we have eliminated the terrorist threat on our border." Referring, of course, to Kurdish fighters. The Turkish president has thus ignored calls for restraint and has made clear his intention to extend the conflict to the city of Manbij, where a significant number of United States forces are present. According to National Geographic, furthermore, a Turkish air strike destroyed the Hittite temple of Ain Dara, an important place of worship and "one of the largest and oldest structures in the country."

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#UPDATE At least 23 civilians were killed as Syrian government air strikes pounded a rebel-held enclave near the capital Damascus, a monitor says u.afp.com/ooy5

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The Kurdish fighters' counterattack and the missile "supplied by a state"

The Kurds, meanwhile, are holding their ground and fighting back. An anti-tank missile killed five Turkish soldiers on Saturday 3 February. "We are in possession of information regarding which country supplied this weapon to the enemy," the head of state declared on Sunday, speaking to the press shortly before leaving Istanbul for Rome. "It is clear that those responsible have decided to take the side of terrorism: as soon as the information is confirmed, we will share it with the entire world." Previously, the deaths of a further 15 Turkish soldiers had been reported in the town of Buki.

Syria still far from peace

In the meantime, in the rest of Syria the situation remains unstable. In the province of Idlib, eight civilians were recently killed in a raid carried out by the air force of President Bashar al-Assad. A further 21 died in similar circumstances in Saraqib. In the same location, Médecins Sans Frontières reported two attacks that struck a hospital, describing it as a "shocking raid that shows the brutality of the conflict."

The Turkish army bombs the Kurds, hitting hundreds of civilians, while Erdogan is on a visit to Italy and the Vatican