Syrian troops enter towns in northeast as Erdogan warns of wider offensive
Source: Washington Post
ISTANBUL Forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad took up positions Monday in several key towns across northeastern Syria, state media and war monitoring group reported, following a last-minute agreement with local Kurdish fighters to ward off a Turkish offensive.
Syrian troops reportedly arrived in Ain Issa and Tabqa on the outskirts of Raqqa and raised the Syrian flag over government buildings in major cities such as Qamishli and Hasakeh, according to pro-government media. One report, in al-Watan newspaper, said government forces had reached the towns of Kobane, a garrison for Syrian Kurdish militants, and Manbij, where U.S. troops had been stationed.
The return of Assads forces to northeastern Syria marks a stunning reversal for Syrian Kurdish authorities, whose fighters controlled a wide swath of territory and enjoyed U.S. support in their battle against the Islamic State.
Turkey views the Syrian Kurdish militias as terrorists and launched its offensive against the fighters known as the Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF last week. The operation has helped unravel the U.S. mission in northern Syria, prompting President Trump to order the withdrawal of all U.S. troops in the coming weeks.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/syrian-troops-enter-towns-in-northeast-as-erdogan-warns-of-wider-offensive/2019/10/14/3fe2c420-ee06-11e9-bb7e-d2026ee0c199_story.html