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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| 'US, Turkish forces begin joint Syria patrols as Turkey continues to strike Kurds |
| 2018-11-03 |
| [France24] Turkish and US troops began joint patrols around the northern Syrian town of Manbij on Thursday, even as Turkey continued to shell nearby positions held by Washington’s Kurdish allies. Turkish military advances into northern Syria over the past two years have put US forces directly in the path of advancing troops from Turkey, Washington's main NATO ally in the region. The two countries have been working to avert direct confrontation, even as Turkey aims to crush the Kurdish YPG militia. Considered a terrorist group by Ankara, the YPG forms the main part of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that Washington backs with arms, air support and around 2,000 special forces troops on the ground in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) group. To avert more fighting, the United States and Turkey agreed three months ago to hold joint patrols around the strategic town of Manbij on the west bank of the Euphrates, under a deal that also saw Kurdish fighters withdraw from the city they had captured at great cost from the IS group. But as the joint patrols were due to begin this week, Turkey announced a new offensive against the Kurds on the opposite bank of the river, into territory where the SDF has US troop support. |
| Posted by:Besoeker |