Turkey launches offensive against U.S.-allied Kurdish forces in northern Syria
ISTANBUL —Turkey’s government launched a long-expected offensive into northeastern Syria on Wednesday, with airstrikes and shelling targeting Syrian Kurdish fighters who have played a central role in aiding the U.S.-led battle against the Islamic State militant group.
The operation — with some ground forces crossing the border later — came just days after President Trump’s startling announcement that the United States would not stand in Turkey’s way, bringing sharp rebukes from even the president’s Republican allies.
The Turkish foray threatened to further fracture a war-shattered Syria as Ankara moved to create a “safe zone” after failing to agree on its size and nature during negotiations with the United States.
Turkey’s goal is to push back the Syrian Kurds — considered enemies by Turkey — from the border region. Turkey also claims the buffer region would be fit for the resettlement of millions of Syrian refugees residing in Turkey.
But aid agencies warned the offensive could create a new humanitarian crisis, as well as a fresh wave of displaced people and refugees.
An even greater worry was the thousands of Islamic State prisoners and their families held by the Syrian Kurdish forces after the fall of the militant group’s self-declared “caliphate.” A security breakdown at the detention camps could open the way for the fighters and others to slip away.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/turkey-launches-offensive-against-us-allied-kurdish-forces-in-northern-syria/ar-AAIuVqO?li=BBnb7Kz
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