Turkish military retaliates to fire from northern Syria

Turkish military on Tuesday continued to shell the positions of Syria's Democratic Union Party (PYD) in northern Syria for the fourth day, saying that it was responding to fire coming from the region, private Dogan news agency reported.

Fire was opened from PYD positions in northern Syria on Tuesday morning, after which Turkish artillery units deployed in Kilis province bordering Syria began to shell the region, according to the report.

Turkish security forces have also stepped up security measures across the Turkish-Syrian border, said the report.

Turkey's army over the weekend shelled People's Protection Units (YPG) targets, the military wing of the PYD, which is the Syrian affiliate of the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK).

On Monday, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that Turkey will not allow the fall of Azaz town of Syria's Aleppo province to the Kurdish Democratic Union Party.

"We will not allow the fall of Azaz. This must be clear to all in the world," said Davutoglu while en route to pay a visit to the Ukrainian capital of Kiev.

Azaz, in northern Syria near the Turkish border, is seen as a critical corridor that connects with Turkey.

Turkish officials have repeatedly said that they will not allow the Kurds in Syria to expand more near the Turkish border.

The latest escalation also came as talks over a ground intervention by Saudi and Turkey troops in Syria have made headlines in recent days.

Observers say such an intervention will spark even more chaos in the war-torn country.

Syria's Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said any foreign troops entering Syria without the consent of the government "will be sent home in wooden coffins." Endit