According to AFP, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday that Turkey plans to continue its assault on Kurdish fighters belonging to the Democratic Union Party (PYD).
In spite of growing pressure for Ankara to stop the shelling of Kurds in Syria, Davutoglu told Merkel in a telephone conversation that Turkey "will not permit the PYD to carry out aggressive acts. Our security forces gave the necessary response and will continue to do so."
Insisting that it was well within the rules of engagement for returning fire, Turkey has continued to shell the PYD and its People's Protection Units (YPG) militia over the last three days.
Davutoglu also told Merkel that he believed the PYD's goal is to displace "hundreds of thousands of Syrian civilians" and create "a new humanitarian crisis" that would affect both Turkey and the European Union.
He also believes that the PYD is working in tandem with Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and advancing in Syria with the help of Russian air support.
Both Turkey and the EU are struggling with the refugee crisis caused by the conflict.
AFP reports that about a million refugees fled Turkey for the EU in 2015 alone.
In addition to Germany, France and the United States have also called for a ceasefire from Turkey.
