Turkish forces capture center of key Syrian border town

Turkey’s military said it captured a key Syrian border town under heavy bombardment Saturday as its offensive against Kurdish fighters pressed into its fourth day with little sign of relenting despite mounting international criticism. Turkish troops entered central Ras al-Ayn according to Turkey’s Defense Ministry and a war monitor group, marking most significant gain since invasion began Wednesday. ministry tweeted: “Ras al-Ayn’s residential center has been taken under control through successful operations in east of Euphrates” river.

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Turkey’s continued push into Syria comes days after U.S. President Donald Trump cleared way for Turkey’s air and ground offensive, pulling back U.S. forces from area and saying he wanted to stop getting involved with “endless wars.” Trump’s decision drew swift bipartisan criticism that he was endangering regional stability and risking lives of Syrian Kurdish allies who brought down Islamic State group in Syria. Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces were main U.S. ally in fight against Islamic State group and lost 11,000 fighters in nearly five-year battle against extremists.

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Turkey takes control of M-4 highway

An Associated Press journalist across border in Turkey heard sound of sporic clashes as Turkish howitzers struck town and Turkish jets screeched overhe. Syrian Kurdish forces appeared to be holding out in some areas of town. Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces released two videos said to be from inside Ras al-Ayn, showing fighters saying that it is Saturday and y are still re. fighting was ongoing as Kurdish fighters sought to reverse Turkish vance into Ras Al-Ayn, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Earlier in day, Turkish troops moved to seize control of key highways in rastern Syria, Turkish military and Observatory said. Turkey’s state-run Anolu news ncy said that Turkey-backed Syrian opposition forces h taken control of M-4 highway that connects towns of Manbij and Qamishli.

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Humanitarian crisis

SDF said that Turkish troops and ir Syrian allies reached highway briefly before being pushed back again. Turkish troops also cut route linking rastern city of Hassakeh with Aleppo, Syria’s largest city and once commercial center, according to Observatory. Since Wednesday, Turkish troops and Syrian opposition fighters backed by Ankara have been vancing under cover of airstrikes and artillery shelling, reaching Manbij-Qamishli ro about 30 kilometers (19 miles) south of Turkish border. Turkey has said it aims to push back Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units, or YPG, which it considers terrorists for its links to a deces-long Kurdish insurgency within its own borders. YPG is a main component of SDF.

U.N. estimated number of displaced at 100,000 since Wednesday, saying that markets, schools and clinics also were closed. Aid ncies have warned of a humanitarian crisis, with nearly a half-million people at risk in rastern Syria. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday Turkey won’t stop until Syrian Kurdish forces withdraw below a 32 kilometer (20 miles) deep line from border. Turkish military aims to clear Syrian border towns of Kurdish fighters’ presence, saying y are a national security threat.

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