The commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said he mistrusted both the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-registers-16-ceasefire-violations-in-syria-over-last-24-hours-259540">Syrian government and Russia</a>, but said in remarks published Saturday that he would follow "a political path" for the sake of peace.

Mazlum Abdi, also known as Kobani, told Italy's La Repubblica newspaper that future negotiations required guarantees from the international community, including Europe.

"We have no confidence, but it's not possible to solve Syria's problems without using the political path. We must negotiate," he said.

Until the United States pulled out of Syria the SDF, whose members are for the most part Kurds, enjoyed the support of a Washington-led coalition in its fight against the Islamic State group.

In the current negotiations, Abdi said Russia was acting as an intermediary between his group and the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

"We will not be party to an agreement that does not include the defence of our people and its political, administrative and cultural liberty," he cautioned.

He said there had also been talks with the US government which had "offered guarantees but there is a certain slowness in applying these guarantees on the ground".

He condemned the US decision to pull out of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-airstrike-kills-six-civilians-in-syria-259490">Syria</a>, saying the move gave "the green light for the Turkish attack against our people" and violated agreements between his group and Washington.

The United States last month announced a pullout from Kurdish-held areas in northeast Syria, allowing Damascus, Ankara and Moscow to carve up the Kurds' now-defunct autonomous region.

Asked about Turkish President Recep Erdogan's wish to have him arrested, Abdi said "what else do you expect from a person who doesn't hide from the world his project to massacre our people".

Turkey and its Syrian proxies on October 9 launched a cross-border attack against Kurdish-held areas, grabbing a 120-kilometre-long&nbsp;swathe of Syrian land along the frontier.

The incursion killed hundreds and caused 300,000 people to flee their homes in the latest humanitarian disaster in Syria's brutal eight-year war.

Turkey and Russia then struck a deal in Sochi for more Kurdish forces to withdraw from the frontier on both sides of that Turkish-held area under the supervision of Russian and Syrian forces.

The commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said he mistrusted both the Syrian government and Russia, but said in remarks published Saturday that he would follow "a political path" for the sake of peace.

The commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said he mistrusted both the Syrian government and Russia, but said in remarks published Saturday that he would follow "a political path" for the sake of peace. Mazlum Abdi, also known as Kobani, told Italy's La Repubblica newspaper that future negotiations required guarantees from the international community, including Europe. "We have no confidence, but it's not possible to solve Syria's problems without using the political path. We must negotiate," he said. Until the United States pulled out of Syria the SDF, whose members are for the most part Kurds, enjoyed the support of a Washington-led coalition in its fight against the Islamic State group. In the current negotiations, Abdi said Russia was acting as an intermediary between his group and the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. "We will not be party to an agreement that does not include the defence of our people and its political, administrative and cultural liberty," he cautioned. He said there had also been talks with the US government which had "offered guarantees but there is a certain slowness in applying these guarantees on the ground". He condemned the US decision to pull out of Syria, saying the move gave "the green light for the Turkish attack against our people" and violated agreements between his group and Washington. The United States last month announced a pullout from Kurdish-held areas in northeast Syria, allowing Damascus, Ankara and Moscow to carve up the Kurds' now-defunct autonomous region. Asked about Turkish President Recep Erdogan's wish to have him arrested, Abdi said "what else do you expect from a person who doesn't hide from the world his project to massacre our people". Turkey and its Syrian proxies on October 9 launched a cross-border attack against Kurdish-held areas, grabbing a 120-kilometre-long swathe of Syrian land along the frontier. The incursion killed hundreds and caused 300,000 people to flee their homes in the latest humanitarian disaster in Syria's brutal eight-year war. Turkey and Russia then struck a deal in Sochi for more Kurdish forces to withdraw from the frontier on both sides of that Turkish-held area under the supervision of Russian and Syrian forces.

Kurdish commander in talks with Russia, Syria but has 'no confidence'

At least&nbsp;eight&nbsp;people were killed on Thursday when a&nbsp;car&nbsp;bomb exploded in a busy market in the northwest Syrian city of&nbsp;Afrin, under control of Turkey-backed rebel groups, witnesses and a rescuer said.

They said the&nbsp;blast&nbsp;also wounded at least 30.

The&nbsp;Turkish&nbsp;military helped by its Syrian rebel allies seized&nbsp;Afrin, a mainly Kurdish city, from the Kurdish YPG militia in March 2018 in a major offensive.

Turkish&nbsp;forces have since&nbsp;carved out a buffer zone inside northern Syria that extends along most of the countries'&nbsp;border.

Videos posted on social media showed extensive damage to the market area with fires burning. Reuters could not immediately vouch for their authenticity.

Similar&nbsp;car&nbsp;blasts frequently hit crowded civilian areas in the mainly Arab populated towns&nbsp;near&nbsp;the&nbsp;border&nbsp;with Turkey under the control of&nbsp;Turkish-backed forces.

Residents and rebels in the rebel-held northwest blame the YPG for the attacks.

The Kurdish-led forces say they are engaged in a guerrilla campaign against&nbsp;Turkish&nbsp;forces but deny they target civilians.

Turkish&nbsp;forces launched their offensive inside Syria this month with a view to setting up a safe zone in mainly Arab populated&nbsp;border&nbsp;areas east of the Euphrates that the Kurdish-led forces control. It has pushed Kurdish fighters out of parts of the strip.

At least eight people were killed on Thursday when a car bomb exploded in a busy market in the northwest Syrian city of Afrin, under control of Turkey-backed rebel groups, witnesses and a rescuer said.

At least eight people were killed on Thursday when a car bomb exploded in a busy market in the northwest Syrian city of Afrin, under control of Turkey-backed rebel groups, witnesses and a rescuer said. They said the blast also wounded at least 30. The Turkish military helped by its Syrian rebel allies seized Afrin, a mainly Kurdish city, from the Kurdish YPG militia in March 2018 in a major offensive. Turkish forces have since carved out a buffer zone inside northern Syria that extends along most of the countries' border. Videos posted on social media showed extensive damage to the market area with fires burning. Reuters could not immediately vouch for their authenticity. Similar car blasts frequently hit crowded civilian areas in the mainly Arab populated towns near the border with Turkey under the control of Turkish-backed forces. Residents and rebels in the rebel-held northwest blame the YPG for the attacks. The Kurdish-led forces say they are engaged in a guerrilla campaign against Turkish forces but deny they target civilians. Turkish forces launched their offensive inside Syria this month with a view to setting up a safe zone in mainly Arab populated border areas east of the Euphrates that the Kurdish-led forces control. It has pushed Kurdish fighters out of parts of the strip.

Car blast kills eight in Syria's Afrin, near Turkish border

Kurdish YPG forces have still not fully withdrawn from a strip of land in northeast Syria from which Ankara says they must leave, Turkey's defence minister was quoted on Tuesday as saying, hours before a deadline for their removal expires.

Under an accord reached a week ago between the presidents of Turkey and Russia, Syrian border guards and Russian military police are meant to remove all YPG forces and their weapons from a 30 km (19 mile) band of territory south of the Turkish-Syrian border by 6 pm local time (1500 GMT) on Tuesday.

After that deadline, Russian and Turkish forces will start jointly to patrol a narrower, 10 km strip of land on the Syrian side of the border.

The deal, clinched in the Russian Black Sea town of Sochi, reinforced an existing US-brokered ceasefire that had halted Turkey's offensive, dubbed Operation Peace Spring, in northeast Syria targeting the YPG, which Ankara views as a terrorist organisation linked to Kurdish insurgents in southeast Turkey.

"It looks like the YPG terror organisation is still in the area of Operation Peace Spring," Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar told the Sabah newspaper in an interview.

"This fight (against terrorism) is not over. We are aware that it will not end."

Asked about the joint patrols planned with Russian forces in the border area, Akar said: "The rules of engagement, (the question of) which vehicles are to be used, the authorities and directives are to be determined."

A Russian delegation is currently in Turkey for talks on the border patrols and wider security situation in northeast Syria.

Akar said there were still around 1,000 YPG fighters in the border town of Manbij and a further 1,000 in nearby Tel Rifat. The two towns are located to the west of the strip of territory that Turkey wants to turn into a "safe zone" but Syrian and Russian forces are also meant to clear them of YPG forces.

President Tayyip Erdogan has said Turkey will act alone to clear northeast Syria of YPG forces if Russia fails to fulfil its obligations under the Sochi accord.

Turkey launched its offensive in northeast Syria after President Donald Trump said he was pulling 1,000 US military personnel from the area. Turkey's NATO allies, including the United States, have criticised Ankara's actions, fearing it will undermine the fight against Islamic State.

The YPG is the main component in the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which has been a key ally of the United States against the Islamic State militants.

Russia, a close ally of President Bashar al-Assad, has emerged as the key foreign power in Syria, its influence further bolstered by the withdrawal of US&nbsp;troops from the northeast.

Kurdish YPG forces have still not fully withdrawn from a strip of land in northeast Syria from which Ankara says they must leave, Turkey's defence minister was quoted on Tuesday as saying, hours before a deadline for their removal expires.

Kurdish YPG forces have still not fully withdrawn from a strip of land in northeast Syria from which Ankara says they must leave, Turkey's defence minister was quoted on Tuesday as saying, hours before a deadline for their removal expires. Under an accord reached a week ago between the presidents of Turkey and Russia, Syrian border guards and Russian military police are meant to remove all YPG forces and their weapons from a 30 km (19 mile) band of territory south of the Turkish-Syrian border by 6 pm local time (1500 GMT) on Tuesday. After that deadline, Russian and Turkish forces will start jointly to patrol a narrower, 10 km strip of land on the Syrian side of the border. The deal, clinched in the Russian Black Sea town of Sochi, reinforced an existing US-brokered ceasefire that had halted Turkey's offensive, dubbed Operation Peace Spring, in northeast Syria targeting the YPG, which Ankara views as a terrorist organisation linked to Kurdish insurgents in southeast Turkey. "It looks like the YPG terror organisation is still in the area of Operation Peace Spring," Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar told the Sabah newspaper in an interview. "This fight (against terrorism) is not over. We are aware that it will not end." Asked about the joint patrols planned with Russian forces in the border area, Akar said: "The rules of engagement, (the question of) which vehicles are to be used, the authorities and directives are to be determined." A Russian delegation is currently in Turkey for talks on the border patrols and wider security situation in northeast Syria. Akar said there were still around 1,000 YPG fighters in the border town of Manbij and a further 1,000 in nearby Tel Rifat. The two towns are located to the west of the strip of territory that Turkey wants to turn into a "safe zone" but Syrian and Russian forces are also meant to clear them of YPG forces. President Tayyip Erdogan has said Turkey will act alone to clear northeast Syria of YPG forces if Russia fails to fulfil its obligations under the Sochi accord. Turkey launched its offensive in northeast Syria after President Donald Trump said he was pulling 1,000 US military personnel from the area. Turkey's NATO allies, including the United States, have criticised Ankara's actions, fearing it will undermine the fight against Islamic State. The YPG is the main component in the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which has been a key ally of the United States against the Islamic State militants. Russia, a close ally of President Bashar al-Assad, has emerged as the key foreign power in Syria, its influence further bolstered by the withdrawal of US troops from the northeast.

Turkey says Kurdish YPG still in Syria border area as deadline looms

Turkey is "heading in the wrong direction" with its incursion into <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-making-ceasefire-permanent-will-be-lifting-sanctions-trump-257772">Syria and deal with Russia</a> to jointly patrol a "safe zone" there, US Defense Secretary Mark Esper warned Thursday.

"Turkey put us all in a very terrible situation" by sweeping into northern Syria this month to fight Kurdish militia allied with the US in the fight against the Islamic State group, Esper told a conference in Brussels ahead of a NATO defence ministers' meeting.

The onus was on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-forces-heading-to-turkey-border-after-putin-erdogan-agreement-report-257734">Turkey's NATO allies </a>to now "work together to strengthen our partnership with them, and get them on the trend back to being the strong reliable ally of the past," he said.

Watch Video:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/donald-trump-lifts-sanctions-on-turkey-257813/embed" width="560" height="350" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" autoplay=1 allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

The issue of Turkey's military operation in Syria is set to dominate the two-day NATO meeting, with diplomats in the organisation saying "frank" discussions with Ankara's representatives have already taken place.

A subsequent arrangement with Russia to clear Kurdish militia that Turkey regards as "terrorists" linked to the outlawed PKK group on its soil has also raised hackles.

Yet, while isolated in NATO, Turkey's strategic position between Europe and the Middle East is seen as too important to jeopardise, so the other alliance members have limited themselves to criticism only.

Esper defended the US decision to pull US forces out of northern Syria, effectively opening the path to the Turkish operation.

"The US decision to withdraw less than 50 soldiers from the zone of attack was made after it was made very clear to us that President (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan made the decision to come across the border," he said, adding that he would not "jeopardise the lives of those servicemen" nor "start a fight with a NATO ally".&nbsp;

He acknowledged "there has been some criticism" about the US withdrawal "but nobody's yet offered a better alternative to what the United States did. We are trying to keep a very strategic perspective."

Turkey is "heading in the wrong direction" with its incursion into Syria and deal with Russia to jointly patrol a "safe zone" there, US Defense Secretary Mark Esper warned Thursday.

Turkey is "heading in the wrong direction" with its incursion into Syria and deal with Russia to jointly patrol a "safe zone" there, US Defense Secretary Mark Esper warned Thursday. "Turkey put us all in a very terrible situation" by sweeping into northern Syria this month to fight Kurdish militia allied with the US in the fight against the Islamic State group, Esper told a conference in Brussels ahead of a NATO defence ministers' meeting. The onus was on Turkey's NATO allies to now "work together to strengthen our partnership with them, and get them on the trend back to being the strong reliable ally of the past," he said. Watch Video: The issue of Turkey's military operation in Syria is set to dominate the two-day NATO meeting, with diplomats in the organisation saying "frank" discussions with Ankara's representatives have already taken place. A subsequent arrangement with Russia to clear Kurdish militia that Turkey regards as "terrorists" linked to the outlawed PKK group on its soil has also raised hackles. Yet, while isolated in NATO, Turkey's strategic position between Europe and the Middle East is seen as too important to jeopardise, so the other alliance members have limited themselves to criticism only. Esper defended the US decision to pull US forces out of northern Syria, effectively opening the path to the Turkish operation. "The US decision to withdraw less than 50 soldiers from the zone of attack was made after it was made very clear to us that President (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan made the decision to come across the border," he said, adding that he would not "jeopardise the lives of those servicemen" nor "start a fight with a NATO ally". He acknowledged "there has been some criticism" about the US withdrawal "but nobody's yet offered a better alternative to what the United States did. We are trying to keep a very strategic perspective."

Turkey heading in wrong direction with Syria incursion: US defence secretary Mark Esper

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad made a rare visit to a frontline of Syria's conflict on Tuesday (October 22), touring an area in war-torn northwestern Idlib province close to the last major bastion of Turkey-backed rebel forces.

Syria's Assad tours Idlib frontline near rebels

Defeating jihadists in Idlib is the key to ending Syria's eight-year-old civil war, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/erdogan-warns-syria-offensive-will-resume-unless-kurds-complete-pull-out-257497">President Bashar al-Assad</a> said on Tuesday on his first visit to the embattled northwestern region since 2011.&nbsp;

"The battle of Idlib is the basis for resolving chaos and terrorism in all other areas of Syria," Assad's office quoted him as telling troops in the frontline town of Al-Hbeit.&nbsp;

It published a picture of the president surrounded by troops dressed in military fatigues, with maps hanging behind them.&nbsp;

His comments came as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-mulls-leaving-some-troops-in-syria-to-guard-oil-pentagon-257363">Syrian troops continued to</a> deploy in parts of the north where they are supporting Kurdish forces to contain a Turkish invasion, according to state news agency SANA.

Watch Video:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/did-turkey-do-the-unthinkable-in-syria-257146/embed" width="560" height="350" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" autoplay=1 allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

After turning the tide of the war, Assad's forces now control around 60 per cent of the country &nbsp;and the president has repeatedly vowed to return all of it to his control, including Idlib.

The Idlib region, which has some three million residents, half of them displaced from other parts of the country, is the last major rebel bastion in Syria.&nbsp;

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham -- a jihadist alliance led by Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate -- extended its administrative control over the whole of Idlib in January, but other rebel factions remain present.

In April, the Syrian government and its Russian allies launched an intensified bombardment of the region.

In August, government troops began a ground offensive that saw them retake several areas in southern Idlib, including the town of Al-Hbeit, which was among the first to fall.

An August 31 ceasefire brokered by Russia largely halted air strikes and clashes with heavy weapons, but skirmishes persist, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.&nbsp;

While the Idlib front has been relatively calm, Syrian troops this month deployed in the northeast as part of a deal with Kurdish forces to protect them from a Turkish invasion.

The deployment is the army's most significant in the Kurdish-controlled north and northeast since it pulled back from the region from 2012.&nbsp;

The Syrian war has killed more than 370,000 people and displaced millions since it erupted in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests.

Defeating jihadists in Idlib is the key to ending Syria's eight-year-old civil war, President Bashar al-Assad said on Tuesday on his first visit to the embattled northwestern region since 2011.

Defeating jihadists in Idlib is the key to ending Syria's eight-year-old civil war, President Bashar al-Assad said on Tuesday on his first visit to the embattled northwestern region since 2011. "The battle of Idlib is the basis for resolving chaos and terrorism in all other areas of Syria," Assad's office quoted him as telling troops in the frontline town of Al-Hbeit. It published a picture of the president surrounded by troops dressed in military fatigues, with maps hanging behind them. His comments came as Syrian troops continued to deploy in parts of the north where they are supporting Kurdish forces to contain a Turkish invasion, according to state news agency SANA. Watch Video: After turning the tide of the war, Assad's forces now control around 60 per cent of the country and the president has repeatedly vowed to return all of it to his control, including Idlib. The Idlib region, which has some three million residents, half of them displaced from other parts of the country, is the last major rebel bastion in Syria. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham -- a jihadist alliance led by Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate -- extended its administrative control over the whole of Idlib in January, but other rebel factions remain present. In April, the Syrian government and its Russian allies launched an intensified bombardment of the region. In August, government troops began a ground offensive that saw them retake several areas in southern Idlib, including the town of Al-Hbeit, which was among the first to fall. An August 31 ceasefire brokered by Russia largely halted air strikes and clashes with heavy weapons, but skirmishes persist, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. While the Idlib front has been relatively calm, Syrian troops this month deployed in the northeast as part of a deal with Kurdish forces to protect them from a Turkish invasion. The deployment is the army's most significant in the Kurdish-controlled north and northeast since it pulled back from the region from 2012. The Syrian war has killed more than 370,000 people and displaced millions since it erupted in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests.

Battle of Idlib basis for resolving terrorism in Syria: Assad

Dozens of Kurdish fighters left a Turkish-besieged town in northern Syria Sunday, in what appeared to be the start of a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-officials-optimistic-about-syria-ceasefire-holding-257122">wider withdrawal under a ceasefire deal</a>.

Ankara launched a cross-border attack against Syria's Kurds on October 9 after the United States announced a military pullout from the north of the war-torn country.

A US-brokered ceasefire was announced late Thursday, giving Kurdish forces until Tuesday evening to withdraw from a "safe zone" Ankara wants to create along its southern frontier.

A Kurdish source&nbsp;said there was a "plan to withdraw" from Ras al-Ain, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, later said Kurdish forces had fully withdrawn from the border town.

Turkey's defence ministry confirmed that Kurdish fighters were leaving the town.

In a statement, it said 55 vehicles had entered Ras al-Ain and 86 had left "in the direction of Tal Tamr" to the south.

It also said one of its troops was killed by Kurdish forces near the town of Tal Abyad.

In Ras al-Ain, an AFP reporter saw at least 50 vehicles, including ambulances, leaving the town hospital, from which flames erupted shortly after their departure.

Dozens of fighters in military attire left on pickups, passing by checkpoints manned by Ankara-allied Syrian fighters, he said.

In the town of Tal Tamr, a woman ululated as a crowd gathered to receive the convoy from Ras al-Ain, another correspondent said.

The departure from Ras al-Ain came a day after a medical convoy managed to evacuate wounded from the hospital.

US troops withdraw

Thursday's deal gives the SDF, the de facto army of Kurdish authorities in northeast Syria, until Tuesday evening to pull out of a 120-kilometre long area from Tal Abyad to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kurdish-fighters-wounded-leave-besieged-syrian-town-ras-al-ain-257115">Ras al-Ain along Syria's northern border</a>.

That strip of land is to run around 30 kilometres&nbsp;deep into Syrian territory.

On Saturday, SDF commander Mazloum Abdi said Kurdish forces would withdraw from the desired buffer region as soon as they were allowed out of Ras al-Ain.

The Kurds have been a key ally to Washington in the US-backed fight against Islamic State group jihadists in Syria, but Turkey views them as "terrorists" linked to Kurdish militants on its own soil.

Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump said US special forces would be withdrawn from northern Syria, in what was widely seen as betrayal of the Kurds and a green light for a Turkish attack.

A week ago, the Pentagon said Trump had ordered the withdrawal of up to 1,000 troops from northern Syria as Turkish troops advanced into Syrian territory.

Earlier Sunday, US forces withdrew from their largest base in northern Syria, the Observatory said.

The correspondent in Tal Tamr saw more than 70 US armoured vehicles escorted by helicopters drive past the town carrying military equipment.

Some flew the American stars-and-stripes flag as they made their way eastwards along a highway crossing the town, he said.

The Observatory said the convoy was evacuating the Sarrin military base on the edge of the planned buffer zone, south of the border town of Kobane.

The vehicles appeared to be heading to the town of Hassakeh, further east, it said.

Turkey 'monitoring'

Sunday's pullout was the fourth such withdrawal of American forces in a week and left Syria's northern provinces of Aleppo and Raqa devoid of US troops, Abdel Rahman said.

Turkey and the Kurds have traded accusations the other was not abiding by the ceasefire deal brokered by US Vice President Mike Pence.

On Twitter, Trump cited Defence Secretary Mark Esper on Sunday as saying the ceasefire was "holding up very nicely".&nbsp;

"There are some minor skirmishes that have ended quickly. New areas being resettled with the Kurds," he said.&nbsp;

On Saturday, Abdi said the US was not doing enough to force Ankara to abide by the agreement, a day after Turkish-led bombardment killed 14 civilians.

He said however that his forces had resumed working with the US-led coalition against IS in the east of the country, and insisted Washington's presence in the country was important.

The violence since October 9 has killed hundreds from both sides and displaced hundreds of thousands from their homes, the Observatory says, in the latest humanitarian crisis in Syria's eight-year civil war.

The international community has warned that the incursion could force Kurdish fighters to redeploy from jails and camps where they are guarding thousands of suspected IS fighters and family members.

They fear a resurgence of the extremists, whom the SDF expelled from their last scrap of territory in March but who continue to claim deadly attacks in Kurdish-held areas.

Dozens of Kurdish fighters left a Turkish-besieged town in northern Syria Sunday, in what appeared to be the start of a wider withdrawal under a ceasefire deal. Ankara launched a cross-border attack against Syria's Kurds on October 9 after the United States announced a military pullout from the north of the war-torn country.

Dozens of Kurdish fighters left a Turkish-besieged town in northern Syria Sunday, in what appeared to be the start of a wider withdrawal under a ceasefire deal. Ankara launched a cross-border attack against Syria's Kurds on October 9 after the United States announced a military pullout from the north of the war-torn country. A US-brokered ceasefire was announced late Thursday, giving Kurdish forces until Tuesday evening to withdraw from a "safe zone" Ankara wants to create along its southern frontier. A Kurdish source said there was a "plan to withdraw" from Ras al-Ain, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, later said Kurdish forces had fully withdrawn from the border town. Turkey's defence ministry confirmed that Kurdish fighters were leaving the town. In a statement, it said 55 vehicles had entered Ras al-Ain and 86 had left "in the direction of Tal Tamr" to the south. It also said one of its troops was killed by Kurdish forces near the town of Tal Abyad. In Ras al-Ain, an AFP reporter saw at least 50 vehicles, including ambulances, leaving the town hospital, from which flames erupted shortly after their departure. Dozens of fighters in military attire left on pickups, passing by checkpoints manned by Ankara-allied Syrian fighters, he said. In the town of Tal Tamr, a woman ululated as a crowd gathered to receive the convoy from Ras al-Ain, another correspondent said. The departure from Ras al-Ain came a day after a medical convoy managed to evacuate wounded from the hospital. US troops withdraw Thursday's deal gives the SDF, the de facto army of Kurdish authorities in northeast Syria, until Tuesday evening to pull out of a 120-kilometre long area from Tal Abyad to Ras al-Ain along Syria's northern border. That strip of land is to run around 30 kilometres deep into Syrian territory. On Saturday, SDF commander Mazloum Abdi said Kurdish forces would withdraw from the desired buffer region as soon as they were allowed out of Ras al-Ain. The Kurds have been a key ally to Washington in the US-backed fight against Islamic State group jihadists in Syria, but Turkey views them as "terrorists" linked to Kurdish militants on its own soil. Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump said US special forces would be withdrawn from northern Syria, in what was widely seen as betrayal of the Kurds and a green light for a Turkish attack. A week ago, the Pentagon said Trump had ordered the withdrawal of up to 1,000 troops from northern Syria as Turkish troops advanced into Syrian territory. Earlier Sunday, US forces withdrew from their largest base in northern Syria, the Observatory said. The correspondent in Tal Tamr saw more than 70 US armoured vehicles escorted by helicopters drive past the town carrying military equipment. Some flew the American stars-and-stripes flag as they made their way eastwards along a highway crossing the town, he said. The Observatory said the convoy was evacuating the Sarrin military base on the edge of the planned buffer zone, south of the border town of Kobane. The vehicles appeared to be heading to the town of Hassakeh, further east, it said. Turkey 'monitoring' Sunday's pullout was the fourth such withdrawal of American forces in a week and left Syria's northern provinces of Aleppo and Raqa devoid of US troops, Abdel Rahman said. Turkey and the Kurds have traded accusations the other was not abiding by the ceasefire deal brokered by US Vice President Mike Pence. On Twitter, Trump cited Defence Secretary Mark Esper on Sunday as saying the ceasefire was "holding up very nicely". "There are some minor skirmishes that have ended quickly. New areas being resettled with the Kurds," he said. On Saturday, Abdi said the US was not doing enough to force Ankara to abide by the agreement, a day after Turkish-led bombardment killed 14 civilians. He said however that his forces had resumed working with the US-led coalition against IS in the east of the country, and insisted Washington's presence in the country was important. The violence since October 9 has killed hundreds from both sides and displaced hundreds of thousands from their homes, the Observatory says, in the latest humanitarian crisis in Syria's eight-year civil war. The international community has warned that the incursion could force Kurdish fighters to redeploy from jails and camps where they are guarding thousands of suspected IS fighters and family members. They fear a resurgence of the extremists, whom the SDF expelled from their last scrap of territory in March but who continue to claim deadly attacks in Kurdish-held areas.

Kurdish fighters leave besieged Syria town

President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-plans-presence-across-northeast-syria-says-erdogan-256798">Recep Tayyip Erdogan</a> on Saturday warned that Turkey would "crush the heads" of Kurdish forces if they did not withdraw from a proposed safe zone along the border under a US-brokered deal.

If the pullout does not happen by Tuesday evening, "we will start where we left off and continue to crush the terrorists' heads," Erdogan said in a televised speech in central Anatolian city of Kayseri.

Turkey has agreed to suspend its Syria offensive for five days and to end the assault if Kurdish-led forces withdraw from the proposed safe zone away from the border, after talks with US Vice President Mike Pence in Ankara.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-erdogan-told-him-he-wants-ceasefire-to-work-256782">Erdogan also provided some details from his talks with the Americans</a>, adding that Ankara agreed to the 120 hour time deadline after its initial demand of "one night" for the withdrawal.

"If the promises given to our country are not kept, as we did in the past we will not wait and restart the operation as soon as the time we have given ends," he said.&nbsp;

The Turkish leader said he also informed US President Donald Trump of Ankara's position during a phone call late Friday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/erdogan-threatens-to-restart-syria-operation-tuesday-if-deal-not-respected-256748">Erdogan is due to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin</a> in the Black Sea resort of Sochi next Tuesday, which overlaps with the end of the 120-hour deadline.

Ankara considers Syrian Kurdish YPG militants to be an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a group that has fought a bloody insurgency inside Turkey for 35 years.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday warned that Turkey would "crush the heads" of Kurdish forces if they did not withdraw from a proposed safe zone along the border under a US-brokered deal.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday warned that Turkey would "crush the heads" of Kurdish forces if they did not withdraw from a proposed safe zone along the border under a US-brokered deal. If the pullout does not happen by Tuesday evening, "we will start where we left off and continue to crush the terrorists' heads," Erdogan said in a televised speech in central Anatolian city of Kayseri. Turkey has agreed to suspend its Syria offensive for five days and to end the assault if Kurdish-led forces withdraw from the proposed safe zone away from the border, after talks with US Vice President Mike Pence in Ankara. Erdogan also provided some details from his talks with the Americans, adding that Ankara agreed to the 120 hour time deadline after its initial demand of "one night" for the withdrawal. "If the promises given to our country are not kept, as we did in the past we will not wait and restart the operation as soon as the time we have given ends," he said. The Turkish leader said he also informed US President Donald Trump of Ankara's position during a phone call late Friday. Erdogan is due to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Black Sea resort of Sochi next Tuesday, which overlaps with the end of the 120-hour deadline. Ankara considers Syrian Kurdish YPG militants to be an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a group that has fought a bloody insurgency inside Turkey for 35 years.

Erdogan vows to 'crush the heads' of Kurdish forces if no pullout

Baloch leader Allah Nizar Baloch has condemned the ongoing military offence by Turkey on the Kurdish population living in north-east Syria, saying that the Ankara has invaded the territory of peace-loving Kurds.

The leader said that the Baloch people can "feel the pain of our Kurdish sisters and brothers", and like them, the Baloch land too has been invaded and occupied by several countries.

He said that it is not surprising that Pakistan has supported the unilateral military offence that has already claimed the lives of dozens of people and displaced hundreds of thousands.

"The irony of the latest assault on the Kurds is that all this is being done in the name of countering terrorism, while at the same time it is providing ISIS space to recoup that was otherwise denied to it by the brave Kurdish people who have sacrificed more than anyone else to combat radical jihadists undermining the very basis of our shared humanity," Nizar said.

Nizar said Turkey`s schemes to suppress Kurdish people and the betrayal by the world powers notwithstanding, the brave Kurds will once again rise to the occasion and protect not only their homeland and culture but also our shared humanity.

"They have lived through a lot and they will overcome this too."

The Baloch leader added that not coincidentally, world powers recently banned a Baloch resistance group too.

"The pattern is clear. The people and secular resistance groups on the ground who really fight Islamic extremism are abandoned to wolves by airborne champions of human rights and secular values who cut deals with radical jihadists in the name of world peace."

He said the Baloch people will always stand by their Kurdish sisters and brothers irrespective of what the so-called world powers think or do "because they understand what it means to fight for one`s basic rights as a human being."

Turkey on October 9 began its long-threatened military operation in north-east Syria to remove Kurdish-led forces from the border area. The move came days after the US announced it was withdrawing its troops from the region, leaving the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), without American military support.

India had expressed deep concerns over the unilateral military offensive by Turkey, saying that Ankara`s actions can undermine "stability in the region" and has the potential for causing humanitarian and civilian distress.

New Delhi has called upon Ankara to exercise restraint, respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria, and urged for the peaceful settlement of all issues through dialogue and discussion.

Baloch leader Allah Nizar Baloch has condemned the ongoing military offence by Turkey on the Kurdish population living in north-east Syria, saying that the Ankara has invaded the territory of peace-loving Kurds.

Baloch leader Allah Nizar Baloch has condemned the ongoing military offence by Turkey on the Kurdish population living in north-east Syria, saying that the Ankara has invaded the territory of peace-loving Kurds. The leader said that the Baloch people can "feel the pain of our Kurdish sisters and brothers", and like them, the Baloch land too has been invaded and occupied by several countries. He said that it is not surprising that Pakistan has supported the unilateral military offence that has already claimed the lives of dozens of people and displaced hundreds of thousands. "The irony of the latest assault on the Kurds is that all this is being done in the name of countering terrorism, while at the same time it is providing ISIS space to recoup that was otherwise denied to it by the brave Kurdish people who have sacrificed more than anyone else to combat radical jihadists undermining the very basis of our shared humanity," Nizar said. Nizar said Turkey`s schemes to suppress Kurdish people and the betrayal by the world powers notwithstanding, the brave Kurds will once again rise to the occasion and protect not only their homeland and culture but also our shared humanity. "They have lived through a lot and they will overcome this too." The Baloch leader added that not coincidentally, world powers recently banned a Baloch resistance group too. "The pattern is clear. The people and secular resistance groups on the ground who really fight Islamic extremism are abandoned to wolves by airborne champions of human rights and secular values who cut deals with radical jihadists in the name of world peace." He said the Baloch people will always stand by their Kurdish sisters and brothers irrespective of what the so-called world powers think or do "because they understand what it means to fight for one`s basic rights as a human being." Turkey on October 9 began its long-threatened military operation in north-east Syria to remove Kurdish-led forces from the border area. The move came days after the US announced it was withdrawing its troops from the region, leaving the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), without American military support. India had expressed deep concerns over the unilateral military offensive by Turkey, saying that Ankara`s actions can undermine "stability in the region" and has the potential for causing humanitarian and civilian distress. New Delhi has called upon Ankara to exercise restraint, respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria, and urged for the peaceful settlement of all issues through dialogue and discussion.

Baloch leader vows support for Kurdish people

Why Did Trump Backstab Kurdish Forces In Syria?

WION Edit: What led to Trump's Syria 'U-turn'?

Why the conflict between Turkey and Kurds started?

The Story of The Turkish-Kurdish Conflict

According to the latest report, 23 Kurdish, 6 Turkish fighters have been killed in Syria-Kurds conflict.

First Turkish Soldier killed in Syria Operation

Turkey on Wednesday faced the threat of US "sanctions from hell" as its <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkeys-military-operation-in-syria-what-does-ankara-wants-255040">assault on Syrian Kurdish forces</a> set off a crisis with its NATO ally, although it might still be able to count on a sympathetic Donald Trump.

Turkey pounded Syria with jets and artillery and sent in troops three days after Trump told his counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan that he would <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/american-troops-to-withdraw-as-turkey-launches-syria-operation-white-house-254146">withdraw US troops</a> effectively serving as a buffer.

While Trump has long sought to extricate the United States from Syria's civil war, his decision triggered furious criticism from US lawmakers hoping to protect the Kurdish forces, who led the fight against the Islamic State group in the country.

A bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation that would freeze all US assets of Turkey's leadership, including Erdogan, and impose sanctions on entities that do business with Turkey's military until Ankara withdraws from Syria.

Lindsey Graham, a senior Republican senator who is usually a steadfast supporter of Trump, had warned Turkey of "sanctions from hell" if it went ahead with the invasion.

"Pray for our Kurdish allies who have been shamelessly abandoned by the Trump Administration. This move ensures the reemergence of ISIS," Graham wrote on Twitter, using an acronym for the Islamic State group.

Faced with harsh rebukes, the mogul-turned-president -- already under pressure in an impeachment inquiry -- has sent mixed messages and threatened at the White House Wednesday to "wipe out" Turkey's economy if Ankara's assault was not carried out "in as humane a way as possible."&nbsp;

"If (Erdogan) does it unfairly, he is going to pay a big economic price," Trump told reporters, adding that he'd "do far more than sanctions."

But he also distanced himself from Graham, saying that the hawkish senator "would like us to stay there for the next 200 years."

Democrats also roundly criticized Trump as abandoning allies, even though some agreed that US troops should leave.

"These sanctions will have immediate, far-reaching consequences for Erdogan and his military," said Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat who teamed up with Graham.

Trump signaled tentative support for sanctions but could veto the legislation if it is approved, setting up a showdown with Congress.

Erdogan invested in Trump

Gonul Tol, director of the Turkey program at the Middle East Institute in Washington, said that Erdogan was looking primarily at domestic considerations, especially after his party's humiliating loss in Istanbul local elections.

Erdogan links the Kurdish fighters, who head the Syrian Democratic Forces, to separatist militants at home and brands them as "terrorists" -- and is also hoping to send back some of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees in Turkey.

If Congress goes ahead with sanctions, "this will mean a new low in Turkish-American relations, and that's going to be bad news for Erdogan as well because the economy matters a lot to him," Tol said.

With Trump known to break diplomatic norms, Erdogan likely sees the US leader as similar to him, with his every word becoming policy, Tol added.

"He has invested so much in the relationship with President Trump and has complete faith in their chemistry," she said.

"Obviously that's not a wise decision because it completely disregards the role that Congress and other institutions play."

Even before entering office, Trump enjoyed ties to Erdogan, Turkey's paramount leader since 2003. In a 2012 encounter drawing fresh scrutiny, the real estate tycoon's daughter Ivanka thanked Erdogan for attending the opening of Trump Towers Istanbul.

Sympathetic Trump in past

Erdogan has seen that Trump can push back against congressional anger in the past.&nbsp;

Turkey has faced limited repercussions, and Trump voiced understanding, after the NATO ally defied the United States to buy Russia's S-400 air defense system.

But Trump last year imposed tariffs that threw the Turkish lira into a tailspin as he successfully sought the release of Andrew Brunson, a US pastor whose detention in the Muslim-majority country made him a cause celebre among Trump's evangelical Christian base.

"President Trump has proven that he does not want to alienate Erdogan. But when he feels threatened or pushed, he could act otherwise," Tol said.

Erdogan "understands that the US can inflict a lot of damage on the Turkish economy. He has seen that," she said.

Nicholas Danforth, an expert on US-Turkey relations at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, said Erdogan feels he has a "good deal of leeway" due to Trump's ambiguous threats and past hesitation at sanctions.

"But we've also seen Trump change course dramatically," Danforth said.

"If Erdogan somehow crosses whatever hard-to-fathom red line exists in Trump's head, sanctions could come suddenly," he added. 
&nbsp;

Turkey on Wednesday faced the threat of US "sanctions from hell" as its assault on Syrian Kurdish forces set off a crisis with its NATO ally, although it might still be able to count on a sympathetic Donald Trump.

Turkey on Wednesday faced the threat of US "sanctions from hell" as its assault on Syrian Kurdish forces set off a crisis with its NATO ally, although it might still be able to count on a sympathetic Donald Trump. Turkey pounded Syria with jets and artillery and sent in troops three days after Trump told his counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan that he would withdraw US troops effectively serving as a buffer. While Trump has long sought to extricate the United States from Syria's civil war, his decision triggered furious criticism from US lawmakers hoping to protect the Kurdish forces, who led the fight against the Islamic State group in the country. A bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation that would freeze all US assets of Turkey's leadership, including Erdogan, and impose sanctions on entities that do business with Turkey's military until Ankara withdraws from Syria. Lindsey Graham, a senior Republican senator who is usually a steadfast supporter of Trump, had warned Turkey of "sanctions from hell" if it went ahead with the invasion. "Pray for our Kurdish allies who have been shamelessly abandoned by the Trump Administration. This move ensures the reemergence of ISIS," Graham wrote on Twitter, using an acronym for the Islamic State group. Faced with harsh rebukes, the mogul-turned-president -- already under pressure in an impeachment inquiry -- has sent mixed messages and threatened at the White House Wednesday to "wipe out" Turkey's economy if Ankara's assault was not carried out "in as humane a way as possible." "If (Erdogan) does it unfairly, he is going to pay a big economic price," Trump told reporters, adding that he'd "do far more than sanctions." But he also distanced himself from Graham, saying that the hawkish senator "would like us to stay there for the next 200 years." Democrats also roundly criticized Trump as abandoning allies, even though some agreed that US troops should leave. "These sanctions will have immediate, far-reaching consequences for Erdogan and his military," said Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat who teamed up with Graham. Trump signaled tentative support for sanctions but could veto the legislation if it is approved, setting up a showdown with Congress. Erdogan invested in Trump Gonul Tol, director of the Turkey program at the Middle East Institute in Washington, said that Erdogan was looking primarily at domestic considerations, especially after his party's humiliating loss in Istanbul local elections. Erdogan links the Kurdish fighters, who head the Syrian Democratic Forces, to separatist militants at home and brands them as "terrorists" -- and is also hoping to send back some of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees in Turkey. If Congress goes ahead with sanctions, "this will mean a new low in Turkish-American relations, and that's going to be bad news for Erdogan as well because the economy matters a lot to him," Tol said. With Trump known to break diplomatic norms, Erdogan likely sees the US leader as similar to him, with his every word becoming policy, Tol added. "He has invested so much in the relationship with President Trump and has complete faith in their chemistry," she said. "Obviously that's not a wise decision because it completely disregards the role that Congress and other institutions play." Even before entering office, Trump enjoyed ties to Erdogan, Turkey's paramount leader since 2003. In a 2012 encounter drawing fresh scrutiny, the real estate tycoon's daughter Ivanka thanked Erdogan for attending the opening of Trump Towers Istanbul. Sympathetic Trump in past Erdogan has seen that Trump can push back against congressional anger in the past. Turkey has faced limited repercussions, and Trump voiced understanding, after the NATO ally defied the United States to buy Russia's S-400 air defense system. But Trump last year imposed tariffs that threw the Turkish lira into a tailspin as he successfully sought the release of Andrew Brunson, a US pastor whose detention in the Muslim-majority country made him a cause celebre among Trump's evangelical Christian base. "President Trump has proven that he does not want to alienate Erdogan. But when he feels threatened or pushed, he could act otherwise," Tol said. Erdogan "understands that the US can inflict a lot of damage on the Turkish economy. He has seen that," she said. Nicholas Danforth, an expert on US-Turkey relations at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, said Erdogan feels he has a "good deal of leeway" due to Trump's ambiguous threats and past hesitation at sanctions. "But we've also seen Trump change course dramatically," Danforth said. "If Erdogan somehow crosses whatever hard-to-fathom red line exists in Trump's head, sanctions could come suddenly," he added.

Turkey faces US 'sanctions from hell' after Syria Kurd assault

How the world is reacting to Turkey's assault in Syria

Explainer: Turkey set to redraw map of Syrian war once more

The head of a Turkish opposition news site was arrested Thursday, his employer said, as part of a crackdown on critics of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/syria-turkey-conflict-ground-report-from-turkey-syria-border-254878">military operation launched in Syria </a>a day earlier.

The Anadolu state news agency said Hakan Demir, head of the leftist Birgun website, was detained for "inciting the people to hatred and enmity" over a message on Twitter.

Birgun was heavily criticised online after reporting that civilians were killed in Turkish strikes against Kurdish positions in Syria on Wednesday, which was denied by the government.

Police said they had opened a total of 78 cases against individuals for "propaganda" online against the operation.

Turkey launched<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-launches-land-operation-in-northeast-syria-arab-league-to-hold-emergency-meeting-254862"> "Operation Peace Spring" </a>on Wednesday against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which it considers a "terrorist" offshoot of Kurdish insurgents in its own territory.

It has arrested online critics during previous offensives against Kurdish forces in Syria, accusing them of "terrorist propaganda".

Rights groups criticise the erosion of free speech under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, particularly in the wake of a failed coup in 2016 which was followed by tens of thousands of arrests of political opponents.

The head of a Turkish opposition news site was arrested Thursday, his employer said, as part of a crackdown on critics of the military operation launched in Syria a day earlier.

The head of a Turkish opposition news site was arrested Thursday, his employer said, as part of a crackdown on critics of the military operation launched in Syria a day earlier. The Anadolu state news agency said Hakan Demir, head of the leftist Birgun website, was detained for "inciting the people to hatred and enmity" over a message on Twitter. Birgun was heavily criticised online after reporting that civilians were killed in Turkish strikes against Kurdish positions in Syria on Wednesday, which was denied by the government. Police said they had opened a total of 78 cases against individuals for "propaganda" online against the operation. Turkey launched "Operation Peace Spring" on Wednesday against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which it considers a "terrorist" offshoot of Kurdish insurgents in its own territory. It has arrested online critics during previous offensives against Kurdish forces in Syria, accusing them of "terrorist propaganda". Rights groups criticise the erosion of free speech under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, particularly in the wake of a failed coup in 2016 which was followed by tens of thousands of arrests of political opponents.

Turkey detains journalist over Syria operation coverage

Several dozen protesters gathered in Lafayette Square across from the White House in Washington on Tuesday (October 8) to demand President Donald Trump reverse his decision to withdraw U.S. forces from northeastern Syria, opening the door to a Turkish offensive against U.S.-allied Kurdish fighters.

Kurds rally outside White House - 'Don't let your allies perish'

A major shift in U.S. policy, 'Will play no more role in the operation against Kurds'. Watch this video to know in detail.

Major shift in U.S. policy, 'Will play no more role in operation against Kurds'

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday that Washington is stalling the implementation of an agreement to create a "safe zone" in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-turkey-launch-joint-patrols-in-northeast-syria-248400">northeast Syria</a>.

The NATO allies carried out their first joint military land patrol in the region on Sunday.

Turkey wants the operations to expand rapidly and push back Kurdish forces 20 miles (32 km) from the border, creating a zone which Ankara says should be controlled by Turkish troops.

Cavusoglu said Turkey wanted to work with the United States, but was prepared to clear the area of<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/now-us-imposes-sanctions-on-irans-shipping-network-over-supplying-oil-to-syria-247630"> Kurdish YPG fighters </a>itself if necessary.

"Yes, there are some joint patrols but other than that, the steps that have been taken or the steps that are said to be taken are cosmetic steps," he told reporters in Ankara.

"We are seeing that the United States is entering a stalling process and that it is trying to get Turkey accustomed to this stalling process."

Cavusoglu said Washington's approach so far had served the Syrian Kurdish YPG forces more than Turkey.

The YPG, which has been the main US ally in the fight against Islamic State in Syria, is considered a terrorist organisation by Ankara, which says it is an extension of Kurdish militants in Turkey.

President Tayyip Erdogan said last week Turkey also aims to send 1 million of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees it hosts to the planned safe zone in northern Syria.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday that Washington is stalling the implementation of an agreement to create a "safe zone" in northeast Syria.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday that Washington is stalling the implementation of an agreement to create a "safe zone" in northeast Syria. The NATO allies carried out their first joint military land patrol in the region on Sunday. Turkey wants the operations to expand rapidly and push back Kurdish forces 20 miles (32 km) from the border, creating a zone which Ankara says should be controlled by Turkish troops. Cavusoglu said Turkey wanted to work with the United States, but was prepared to clear the area of Kurdish YPG fighters itself if necessary. "Yes, there are some joint patrols but other than that, the steps that have been taken or the steps that are said to be taken are cosmetic steps," he told reporters in Ankara. "We are seeing that the United States is entering a stalling process and that it is trying to get Turkey accustomed to this stalling process." Cavusoglu said Washington's approach so far had served the Syrian Kurdish YPG forces more than Turkey. The YPG, which has been the main US ally in the fight against Islamic State in Syria, is considered a terrorist organisation by Ankara, which says it is an extension of Kurdish militants in Turkey. President Tayyip Erdogan said last week Turkey also aims to send 1 million of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees it hosts to the planned safe zone in northern Syria.

US stalling on Syria 'safe zone': Turkey

Jailed militant leader Abdullah Ocalan called for Kurdish lawmakers and thousands of prisoners to end their hunger strike in a statement read by one of his lawyers on Sunday, 200 days after one MP launched the protest.

Pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) lawmaker Leyla Guven began a hunger strike in November to try to end Ocalan's isolation in prison by securing him regular access to his family and lawyers.

"Comrades who have committed themselves to<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-join-protest-in-support-for-turkey-hunger-strikes-against-prison-conditions-of-kurdish-militant-leader-194856"> hunger strikes </a>and death fasts, I expect you to end your protest," Ocalan said in a statement read out at a news conference in Istanbul, four days after his lawyers visited him in jail.

Ocalan is the founder of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. He has been held in an island prison since Turkish special forces captured him in Kenya in 1999.

His lawyers visited him at the start of this month for the first time in nearly eight years and were allowed to hold talks with him again on Wednesday. A statement was scheduled to be made on behalf of Leyla Guven at 1000 GMT.

Ankara's decision to allow the resumption of visits comes a month ahead of an election re-run in Istanbul and has led to speculation that it could be a step towards a new peace process, four years after government talks with Ocalan fell apart.

Jailed militant leader Abdullah Ocalan called for Kurdish lawmakers and thousands of prisoners to end their hunger strike in a statement read by one of his lawyers on Sunday, 200 days after one MP launched the protest.

Jailed militant leader Abdullah Ocalan called for Kurdish lawmakers and thousands of prisoners to end their hunger strike in a statement read by one of his lawyers on Sunday, 200 days after one MP launched the protest. Pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) lawmaker Leyla Guven began a hunger strike in November to try to end Ocalan's isolation in prison by securing him regular access to his family and lawyers. "Comrades who have committed themselves to hunger strikes and death fasts, I expect you to end your protest," Ocalan said in a statement read out at a news conference in Istanbul, four days after his lawyers visited him in jail. Ocalan is the founder of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. He has been held in an island prison since Turkish special forces captured him in Kenya in 1999. His lawyers visited him at the start of this month for the first time in nearly eight years and were allowed to hold talks with him again on Wednesday. A statement was scheduled to be made on behalf of Leyla Guven at 1000 GMT. Ankara's decision to allow the resumption of visits comes a month ahead of an election re-run in Istanbul and has led to speculation that it could be a step towards a new peace process, four years after government talks with Ocalan fell apart.

Jailed Kurdish militant leader calls for end to hunger strike

Iraq on Sunday said it would summon the Turkish ambassador over the death of a Kurdish protester after Turkish troops opened fire on demonstrators in the country's northwest.

On Saturday night, Kurdish protesters stormed a Turkish army position in the Shiladzeh region of northwestern Iraq to protest the deaths of four civilians they said were killed last week in Turkish bombardment.

Witnesses said Turkish troops opened fire on the demonstrators, causing casualties and damage.

Iraq's foreign ministry on Sunday denounced the incident, saying one person was killed and several others wounded when Turkish forces "opened fire on citizens in the Shiladzeh area".

"The foreign ministry will summon the Turkish ambassador to hand a protest note about the incident and demand that it not be repeated," it added.&nbsp;

Turkish forces are deployed in Iraq's northern autonomous Kurdish region and often carry out raids and air strikes against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), seen as a "terrorist" group by Ankara.

On Saturday, the Kurdish regional government said it was "saddened" by the casualties and material damage at Shiladzeh but only referred to an "incident" without mentioning Turkey or the protest.

Footage distributed by activists appeared to show protesters setting Turkish military vehicles on fire.

Turkey's defence ministry said one of its bases was attacked after "provocation by a PKK terror group," resulting in some damage to vehicles and other equipment.&nbsp;

On Sunday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the PKK was "troubled" because Ankara was hitting its "terror nests".&nbsp;

"They are provoking the local community. And we know that the PKK is behind this (the attack)," he told reporters in the southern city of Antalya.&nbsp;

Cavusoglu said he had spoken to the prime minister of autonomous Kurdistan, Nechirvan Barzani, who reportedly told him authorities would conduct a "comprehensive investigation".

The PKK has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984 but also operates bases in the Qandil mountain area of Iraq's Kurdish region.

In December, Baghdad summoned the Turkish ambassador to protest Ankara's "repeated" air strikes as a "violation of its sovereignty".&nbsp;

Turkey has pressed Iraq to play a bigger role in fighting the PKK, and last month announced deeper bilateral cooperation on the matter. 
&nbsp;

Iraq on Sunday said it would summon the Turkish ambassador over the death of a Kurdish protester after Turkish troops opened fire on demonstrators in the country's northwest.

Iraq on Sunday said it would summon the Turkish ambassador over the death of a Kurdish protester after Turkish troops opened fire on demonstrators in the country's northwest. On Saturday night, Kurdish protesters stormed a Turkish army position in the Shiladzeh region of northwestern Iraq to protest the deaths of four civilians they said were killed last week in Turkish bombardment. Witnesses said Turkish troops opened fire on the demonstrators, causing casualties and damage. Iraq's foreign ministry on Sunday denounced the incident, saying one person was killed and several others wounded when Turkish forces "opened fire on citizens in the Shiladzeh area". "The foreign ministry will summon the Turkish ambassador to hand a protest note about the incident and demand that it not be repeated," it added. Turkish forces are deployed in Iraq's northern autonomous Kurdish region and often carry out raids and air strikes against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), seen as a "terrorist" group by Ankara. On Saturday, the Kurdish regional government said it was "saddened" by the casualties and material damage at Shiladzeh but only referred to an "incident" without mentioning Turkey or the protest. Footage distributed by activists appeared to show protesters setting Turkish military vehicles on fire. Turkey's defence ministry said one of its bases was attacked after "provocation by a PKK terror group," resulting in some damage to vehicles and other equipment. On Sunday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the PKK was "troubled" because Ankara was hitting its "terror nests". "They are provoking the local community. And we know that the PKK is behind this (the attack)," he told reporters in the southern city of Antalya. Cavusoglu said he had spoken to the prime minister of autonomous Kurdistan, Nechirvan Barzani, who reportedly told him authorities would conduct a "comprehensive investigation". The PKK has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984 but also operates bases in the Qandil mountain area of Iraq's Kurdish region. In December, Baghdad summoned the Turkish ambassador to protest Ankara's "repeated" air strikes as a "violation of its sovereignty". Turkey has pressed Iraq to play a bigger role in fighting the PKK, and last month announced deeper bilateral cooperation on the matter.

Baghdad to summon Turkey envoy over death of Kurdish protester

A bomb blast in a bus killed three civilians Sunday in the northern Syrian city of Afrin on the first anniversary of a Turkish attack on the Kurdish-majority region, a war monitor said.

Nine other people, including fighters, were wounded in the explosion, the head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel Rahman, told AFP.

Turkish troops and allied rebel groups seized the Afrin region from Kurdish forces in March last year after a two-month air and ground offensive.

"The explosion is the result of a bomb that was placed in a bus in the centre of Afrin," Abdel Rahman said.

It was not immediately clear who was behind the blast, the second to rock Afrin since December 16 when a car bomb killed at least nine people, including five civilians, near a pro-Turkey rebel post in the city.

That explosion came after Turkish President Recep Tayyib Erdogan threatened to launch a new offensive against the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in Syria.

Turkey accuses the YPG of being "terrorists", but the Kurdish militia also forms the backbone of a US-backed alliance fighting the Islamic State group in Syria.

A bomb blast in a bus killed three civilians Sunday in the northern Syrian city of Afrin on the first anniversary of a Turkish attack on the Kurdish-majority region, a war monitor said.

A bomb blast in a bus killed three civilians Sunday in the northern Syrian city of Afrin on the first anniversary of a Turkish attack on the Kurdish-majority region, a war monitor said. Nine other people, including fighters, were wounded in the explosion, the head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel Rahman, told AFP. Turkish troops and allied rebel groups seized the Afrin region from Kurdish forces in March last year after a two-month air and ground offensive. "The explosion is the result of a bomb that was placed in a bus in the centre of Afrin," Abdel Rahman said. It was not immediately clear who was behind the blast, the second to rock Afrin since December 16 when a car bomb killed at least nine people, including five civilians, near a pro-Turkey rebel post in the city. That explosion came after Turkish President Recep Tayyib Erdogan threatened to launch a new offensive against the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in Syria. Turkey accuses the YPG of being "terrorists", but the Kurdish militia also forms the backbone of a US-backed alliance fighting the Islamic State group in Syria.

Bomb blast in a bus kills 3 civilians in Syria's Afrin: Monitor

Syrian troops deployed in support of Kurdish forces around a strategic northern city on Friday, in a shift of alliances hastened by last week's announcement of a US military withdrawal.

Nearly eight years into Syria's deadly conflict, the move marked another key step in President Bashar al-Assad's Russian-backed drive to reassert control over the country.

The Syrian army announced that it had raised the flag in Manbij, a strategic city close to the Turkish border where Kurdish forces have been deployed since 2016 and where US-led coalition forces are also stationed.

A military spokesman said in a televised announcement that the army would be bent on "crushing terrorism and defeating all invaders and occupiers".

More than 300 government forces deployed in the Manbij area, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Nura al-Hamed, deputy head of the Manbij local authority, told AFP that the regime deployment was the result of Russian-sponsored negotiations.

"The regime forces will not enter the city of Manbij itself but will deploy on the demarcation line" with Turkish-backed Syrian groups, she said.

Hamed said that US and French coalition forces stationed there remained at their positions and continued to conduct patrols.

The US military said the Syrian army had not entered the city itself.

"Despite incorrect information about changes to the military forces in Manbij city, (the US-led coalition) has seen no indication of these claims being true," US Central Command spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Earl Brown said.

Kurdish shift

The Syrian army's deployment creates a regime buffer arching across northern Syria that fully separates the Turkish army and its proxies from the Kurds.

Turkey reacted to the deployment by warning "all sides to stay away from provocative actions" while a large convoy of its Syrian auxiliaries were seen moving closer to the western edge of Manbij later on Friday.

US President Donald Trump's shock withdrawal announcement last week left the Kurds in the cold.

The People's Protection Units (YPG) have been the backbone of an alliance that has spearheaded the US-backed fight against the Islamic State group in Syria.

They are currently battling the last remnants of the jihadists' once sprawling "caliphate" in the country's far east, near the border with Iraq.

A US withdrawal will leave them exposed to an assault by Turkey, which has thousands of proxy fighters in northern Syria and wants to crush Kurdish forces it considers terrorists.

The Kurds welcomed the regime advance, a pragmatic shift in alliances that will dash their aspirations for autonomy but could help them cut their losses.

"We invite the Syrian government forces... to assert control over the areas our forces have withdrawn from, particularly in Manbij, and to protect these areas against a Turkish invasion," the YPG said in a statement.

After Manbij, the focus is likely to move to Raqa, a mostly Arab city that the Kurds liberated from IS last year and that the regime has vowed to retake.

Turkey said Syrian Kurds "don't have the right" to seek regime help but Russia, the main foreign player in Syria since it intervened to rescue Assad in 2015, hailed the latest development.

"Of course, this will help in stabilising the situation. The enlargement of the zone under the control of government forces... is without doubt a positive trend," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Peskov said the situation would be discussed on Saturday during a visit to Moscow by the Turkish foreign and defence ministers, to "clarify" the situation and "synchronise actions" between the two countries.

This year the regime retook large swathes of territory with the help of Russian firepower, after three years ago controlling less than a third of the country.

Diplomatic drive

The government ousted rebels from their bastions in and around the capital Damascus and flushed out other pockets to reopen key transport and trade routes.

With internal opposition in tatters and UN-backed political negotiations stillborn, Assad is now trying to shed his pariah status and looking for funds to rebuild the country.

The US pullout from Syria risks opening a highway for other regional players such as Turkey and Iran, a prospect that some of Assad's erstwhile foes are keen to counter.

On Thursday, the United Arab Emirates -- a Turkish rival in the region -- reopened its embassy in Damascus, nearly seven years after severing ties and recognising a now defunct opposition umbrella.

The move was the latest in a series of developments building up to the return of Assad's Syria into the Arab fold.

Bahrain also announced it would reopen its mission in Damascus and observers expect regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia to confirm that trend in the coming weeks.

The Arab League has admitted that the reintegration of Syria, which was suspended from the regional body when it intensified its repression of anti-government protests seven years ago, is on the table.

Syrian troops deployed in support of Kurdish forces around a strategic northern city on Friday, in a shift of alliances hastened by last week's announcement of a US military withdrawal.

Syrian troops deployed in support of Kurdish forces around a strategic northern city on Friday, in a shift of alliances hastened by last week's announcement of a US military withdrawal. Nearly eight years into Syria's deadly conflict, the move marked another key step in President Bashar al-Assad's Russian-backed drive to reassert control over the country. The Syrian army announced that it had raised the flag in Manbij, a strategic city close to the Turkish border where Kurdish forces have been deployed since 2016 and where US-led coalition forces are also stationed. A military spokesman said in a televised announcement that the army would be bent on "crushing terrorism and defeating all invaders and occupiers". More than 300 government forces deployed in the Manbij area, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Nura al-Hamed, deputy head of the Manbij local authority, told AFP that the regime deployment was the result of Russian-sponsored negotiations. "The regime forces will not enter the city of Manbij itself but will deploy on the demarcation line" with Turkish-backed Syrian groups, she said. Hamed said that US and French coalition forces stationed there remained at their positions and continued to conduct patrols. The US military said the Syrian army had not entered the city itself. "Despite incorrect information about changes to the military forces in Manbij city, (the US-led coalition) has seen no indication of these claims being true," US Central Command spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Earl Brown said. Kurdish shift The Syrian army's deployment creates a regime buffer arching across northern Syria that fully separates the Turkish army and its proxies from the Kurds. Turkey reacted to the deployment by warning "all sides to stay away from provocative actions" while a large convoy of its Syrian auxiliaries were seen moving closer to the western edge of Manbij later on Friday. US President Donald Trump's shock withdrawal announcement last week left the Kurds in the cold. The People's Protection Units (YPG) have been the backbone of an alliance that has spearheaded the US-backed fight against the Islamic State group in Syria. They are currently battling the last remnants of the jihadists' once sprawling "caliphate" in the country's far east, near the border with Iraq. A US withdrawal will leave them exposed to an assault by Turkey, which has thousands of proxy fighters in northern Syria and wants to crush Kurdish forces it considers terrorists. The Kurds welcomed the regime advance, a pragmatic shift in alliances that will dash their aspirations for autonomy but could help them cut their losses. "We invite the Syrian government forces... to assert control over the areas our forces have withdrawn from, particularly in Manbij, and to protect these areas against a Turkish invasion," the YPG said in a statement. After Manbij, the focus is likely to move to Raqa, a mostly Arab city that the Kurds liberated from IS last year and that the regime has vowed to retake. Turkey said Syrian Kurds "don't have the right" to seek regime help but Russia, the main foreign player in Syria since it intervened to rescue Assad in 2015, hailed the latest development. "Of course, this will help in stabilising the situation. The enlargement of the zone under the control of government forces... is without doubt a positive trend," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Peskov said the situation would be discussed on Saturday during a visit to Moscow by the Turkish foreign and defence ministers, to "clarify" the situation and "synchronise actions" between the two countries. This year the regime retook large swathes of territory with the help of Russian firepower, after three years ago controlling less than a third of the country. Diplomatic drive The government ousted rebels from their bastions in and around the capital Damascus and flushed out other pockets to reopen key transport and trade routes. With internal opposition in tatters and UN-backed political negotiations stillborn, Assad is now trying to shed his pariah status and looking for funds to rebuild the country. The US pullout from Syria risks opening a highway for other regional players such as Turkey and Iran, a prospect that some of Assad's erstwhile foes are keen to counter. On Thursday, the United Arab Emirates -- a Turkish rival in the region -- reopened its embassy in Damascus, nearly seven years after severing ties and recognising a now defunct opposition umbrella. The move was the latest in a series of developments building up to the return of Assad's Syria into the Arab fold. Bahrain also announced it would reopen its mission in Damascus and observers expect regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia to confirm that trend in the coming weeks. The Arab League has admitted that the reintegration of Syria, which was suspended from the regional body when it intensified its repression of anti-government protests seven years ago, is on the table.

Syrian army claims entering key city Manbij in new alliance with Kurds

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Tuesday urged Turkey to swiftly process the legal case of the ex-head of the pro-Kurdish opposition, saying his pre-trial detention had gone on longer than could be justified.

Selahattin Demirtas, former co-chairman of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and one of Turkey's best known politicians, was sentenced in September to more than four years in jail on terrorism charges related to a speech he gave in 2013.

Having already spent nearly two years in prison awaiting trial for those alleged offences, he had effectively already served out the prison term handed down by the Turkish court.

But Demirtas remains in prison facing several more terrorism-related charges, mostly for other speeches he gave, that could see him sentenced to up to 142 years in jail if found guilty.

"The Court found that the judicial authorities had extended Mr Demirtas' detention on grounds that could not be regarded as 'sufficient' to justify its duration," the Strasbourg-based ECHR said in a statement.

The ECHR ruled that Ankara "was to take all necessary measures to put an end to the applicant's pre-trial detention."

Turkish Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul dismissed the court's ruling, saying the country's judiciary would decide on Demirtas' cases.

The government accuses the HDP of links to the outlawed Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK), considered a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. The HDP denies this.

The ECHR also criticised Turkey for keeping Demirtas detained during two elections: a constitutional referendum in 2017 and this year's presidential ballot.

"The extensions of Mr Demirtas' detention, especially during two crucial campaigns... pursued the predominant ulterior purpose of stifling pluralism and limiting freedom of political debate," it said.

The court, which awarded Demirtas 10,000 euros ($11,430) in damages and a further 15,000 euros in costs, ruled against a number of his other complaints and accepted that he had been arrested and detained on "reasonable suspicion" of having committed a criminal offence.

Kati Piri, EU Rapporteur on Turkey, said the clear ECHR verdict meant Demirtas should be released immediately. "His detention is of a political, not a criminal nature."

Kerem Altiparmak, a prominent Turkish human rights advocate and professor, also called for Demirtas' immediate release, as his pre-trial detention was now in violation of both domestic and international law.

ECHR rulings are in theory binding, but there have been many instances in which Turkey has not implemented them, paying fines instead.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Tuesday urged Turkey to swiftly process the legal case of the ex-head of the pro-Kurdish opposition, saying his pre-trial detention had gone on longer than could be justified.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Tuesday urged Turkey to swiftly process the legal case of the ex-head of the pro-Kurdish opposition, saying his pre-trial detention had gone on longer than could be justified. Selahattin Demirtas, former co-chairman of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and one of Turkey's best known politicians, was sentenced in September to more than four years in jail on terrorism charges related to a speech he gave in 2013. Having already spent nearly two years in prison awaiting trial for those alleged offences, he had effectively already served out the prison term handed down by the Turkish court. But Demirtas remains in prison facing several more terrorism-related charges, mostly for other speeches he gave, that could see him sentenced to up to 142 years in jail if found guilty. "The Court found that the judicial authorities had extended Mr Demirtas' detention on grounds that could not be regarded as 'sufficient' to justify its duration," the Strasbourg-based ECHR said in a statement. The ECHR ruled that Ankara "was to take all necessary measures to put an end to the applicant's pre-trial detention." Turkish Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul dismissed the court's ruling, saying the country's judiciary would decide on Demirtas' cases. The government accuses the HDP of links to the outlawed Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK), considered a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. The HDP denies this. The ECHR also criticised Turkey for keeping Demirtas detained during two elections: a constitutional referendum in 2017 and this year's presidential ballot. "The extensions of Mr Demirtas' detention, especially during two crucial campaigns... pursued the predominant ulterior purpose of stifling pluralism and limiting freedom of political debate," it said. The court, which awarded Demirtas 10,000 euros ($11,430) in damages and a further 15,000 euros in costs, ruled against a number of his other complaints and accepted that he had been arrested and detained on "reasonable suspicion" of having committed a criminal offence. Kati Piri, EU Rapporteur on Turkey, said the clear ECHR verdict meant Demirtas should be released immediately. "His detention is of a political, not a criminal nature." Kerem Altiparmak, a prominent Turkish human rights advocate and professor, also called for Demirtas' immediate release, as his pre-trial detention was now in violation of both domestic and international law. ECHR rulings are in theory binding, but there have been many instances in which Turkey has not implemented them, paying fines instead.

European court says Turkey holding Kurdish politician too long without trial

Turkey&#39;s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Turkish troops and the Syrian rebel fighter allies have seized control of the town center of Afrin from Kurdish YPG fighters.

A spokesman for the rebel fighters said they entered Afrin before dawn from three fronts, meeting no resistance.

&ldquo;Afrin city centre is under control as of 8:30 this morning,&rdquo; Erdogan told a rally marking the 103rd anniversary of the World War One Gallipoli campaign. Turkish and Free Syrian Army flags had been raised in Afrin, Erdogan said.

&ldquo;Most of the terrorists have already fled with tails between their legs. Our special forces and members of the Free Syrian Army are cleaning the remains and the traps they left behind,&rdquo; Erdogan said. &ldquo;In the centre of Afrin, symbols of trust and stability are waving instead of rags of terrorists.&rdquo;

But a war monitor said clashes continued in parts of Afrin, the main town of the Afrin region which has been under Kurdish control for years. Afrin is one of three Kurdish cantons in northern Syria on the border with Turkey.

Turkey launched its military offensive against US-backed Kurdish YPG militia in Afrin on January 20, supported by FSA rebel factions. Further, it says it will extend the offensive to other Kurdish regions where US forces are stationed alongside the YPG, an ally against Islamic State.

The fighting in a once stable pocket of northwest Syria has opened a new front in the country&rsquo;s multi-sided civil war, highlighting the ever greater role of foreign powers in the seven-year-old conflict.

More than 150,000 people have been displaced in the last few days from Afrin town, a senior Kurdish official and a monitoring group said Saturday.

A spokesman for the rebel fighters said they entered Afrin before dawn from three fronts, meeting no resistance

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Turkish troops and the Syrian rebel fighter allies have seized control of the town center of Afrin from Kurdish YPG fighters. A spokesman for the rebel fighters said they entered Afrin before dawn from three fronts, meeting no resistance. “Afrin city centre is under control as of 8:30 this morning,” Erdogan told a rally marking the 103rd anniversary of the World War One Gallipoli campaign. Turkish and Free Syrian Army flags had been raised in Afrin, Erdogan said. “Most of the terrorists have already fled with tails between their legs. Our special forces and members of the Free Syrian Army are cleaning the remains and the traps they left behind,” Erdogan said. “In the centre of Afrin, symbols of trust and stability are waving instead of rags of terrorists.” But a war monitor said clashes continued in parts of Afrin, the main town of the Afrin region which has been under Kurdish control for years. Afrin is one of three Kurdish cantons in northern Syria on the border with Turkey. Turkey launched its military offensive against US-backed Kurdish YPG militia in Afrin on January 20, supported by FSA rebel factions. Further, it says it will extend the offensive to other Kurdish regions where US forces are stationed alongside the YPG, an ally against Islamic State. The fighting in a once stable pocket of northwest Syria has opened a new front in the country’s multi-sided civil war, highlighting the ever greater role of foreign powers in the seven-year-old conflict. More than 150,000 people have been displaced in the last few days from Afrin town, a senior Kurdish official and a monitoring group said Saturday.

Syrian rebel fighters enter Afrin town, Kurdish forces pull out

A Turkish bombing raid struck the main hospital in the Kurdish-controlled Syrian town of Afrin, killing sixteen civilians, a monitor said.

The Kurdish Red Crescent medical service, which supports the hospital, confirmed that the hospital was hit but did not give a toll.

According to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the Turkish air strike &quot;directly&quot; hit the medical facility.

&quot;Sixteen civilians were killed, including two pregnant women,&quot; said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman.

No medical staff were among the dead, he said.

Serwan Bery, co-chair of the Kurdish Red Crescent and based in the northeast Syria town of Qamishli, also said no hospital staff were known to have died.

&quot;There was bombing on the city during the day that got close to the hospital, but this evening it was directly hit,&quot; said Bery.

&quot;It was the only functioning hospital in Afrin city,&quot; he said.

Turkey and allied rebels have waged a nearly two-month offensive on the Afrin region, which is held by the Kurdish People&#39;s Protection Units (YPG).

Pro-Ankara forces were now on the verge of besieging Afrin, and terrified civilians have poured out of the city.

At least 15,000 people left Afrin on Friday, according to the Observatory.

A Turkish bombing raid struck the main hospital in the Kurdish-controlled Syrian town of Afrin, killing sixteen civilians, a monitor said. The Kurdish Red Crescent medical service, which supports the hospital, confirmed that the hospital was hit but did not give a toll. According to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the Turkish air strike "directly" hit the medical facility. "Sixteen civilians were killed, including two pregnant women," said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman. No medical staff were among the dead, he said. Serwan Bery, co-chair of the Kurdish Red Crescent and based in the northeast Syria town of Qamishli, also said no hospital staff were known to have died. "There was bombing on the city during the day that got close to the hospital, but this evening it was directly hit," said Bery. "It was the only functioning hospital in Afrin city," he said. Turkey and allied rebels have waged a nearly two-month offensive on the Afrin region, which is held by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG). Pro-Ankara forces were now on the verge of besieging Afrin, and terrified civilians have poured out of the city. At least 15,000 people left Afrin on Friday, according to the Observatory.

Turkish air strike hits hospital in Syria's Afrin: Monitor, medics

Turkey has killed at least 260 Syrian Kurdish fighters and Islamic State militants in its four-day-old offensive into the Kurdish-dominated Afrin region of northwest Syria, the Turkish military said on Tuesday.

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump plans to raise concerns with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in a phone call expected on Wednesday about Ankara&#39;s offensive against US-backed Kurdish YPG forces in Afrin, a senior US&nbsp;official said.

French President Emmanuel Macron also voiced disquiet, a few hours after Turkey&#39;s foreign minister said it wanted to avoid any clash with US, Russian or Syrian government forces during its offensive but would do whatever necessary for its security.

The air and ground operation has opened a new front in Syria&#39;s multi-sided civil war and could threaten US&nbsp;plans to stabilise and rebuild a large area of northeast Syria - beyond President Bashar al-Assad&#39;s control - where Washington helped a force dominated by the YPG to drive out Islamic State militants.

The United States and Russia both have military forces in Syria backing opposing sides and have called for restraint on the part of Ankara&#39;s &quot;Operation Olive Branch&quot; to crush the YPG in the Afrin region near Turkey&#39;s southern border.

A senior Trump administration official, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity, said Ankara had sent &quot;conflicting signals&quot; about the scope of the offensive.

&quot;We would urge them to limit the incursion as much as possible,&quot; the official said, who said the phone call would happen soon. Another official - as well as Turkey&#39;s foreign minister - said Erdogan and Trump planned to speak on Wednesday.

A statement by Macron&#39;s office said: &quot;Taking into account Turkey&#39;s security imperatives, the president expressed to his Turkish counterpart his concerns following the military intervention launched on Saturday in Afrin.&quot;

Erdogan told Macron on Tuesday Turkey was taking all measures to prevent civilian casualties in the Afrin operation, sources at the presidential palace said. The two leaders agreed to stay in close contact on the issue.

The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin had also discussed Turkey&#39;s military operation Erdogan by phone and that Syria&#39;s territorial integrity and sovereignty had to be respected.

A Kremlin statement said both men stressed the importance of continuing their two countries&#39; joint work to try to find a peaceful resolution to Syria&#39;s crisis. Russia has been Assad&#39;s most powerful ally against rebels and militants in Syria.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu reiterated Ankara&#39;s demand that Washington stops supporting the YPG.

Ankara has said the operation will be swift, but Erdogan&#39;s spokesman signalled an open-ended cross-border campaign, saying it would end only when some 3.5 million Syrian refugees now living in Turkey could safely return home.

The United States hopes to use the YPG&#39;s control in northern Syria to give it the diplomatic muscle it needs to revive U.N.-led talks in Geneva on a deal that would end Syria&rsquo;s civil war.

Near breaking point&nbsp;

Ankara has been infuriated by the U.S. support for the YPG, which is one of several issues that have brought ties between Washington and its Muslim NATO ally close to breaking point.

&quot;The future of our relations depends on the step the United States will take next,&quot; Cavusoglu said.

Turkey&#39;s military, the second largest in NATO, has conducted air strikes and artillery barrages against targets in Afrin, and its soldiers and allied Syrian rebels tried to thrust into the Kurdish-held district from west, north and eastern flanks.

With heavy cloud cover hindering air support in the last 24 hours, advances have been limited and the Kurdish militia have retaken some territory. Turkish troops and the Syrian fighters have been trying to take the summit of Bursaya Hill, overlooking the eastern approach to Afrin town.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said 23 civilians had been killed in Turkish shelling and air strikes, and thousands were fleeing the fighting.

However, Syrian government forces were preventing people from crossing government-held checkpoints to reach the Kurdish-held districts of nearby Aleppo city, it said.

YPG Threat

US&nbsp;Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Turkey&#39;s offensive distracted from efforts to defeat Islamic State. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the United States wanted to see Turkey &quot;de-escalate,&quot; which Trump would raise in the call with Erdogan.

Ankara says the jihadist group is largely finished in Syria and that the greater threat comes from the YPG, which it sees as an extension of a Kurdish group that has waged a decades-long separatist insurgency inside Turkey.

Erdogan has said Turkey aims to destroy YPG control not just in the Afrin enclave but also in the mainly Arab town of Manbij to the east. &quot;Terrorists in Manbij are constantly firing provocation shots. If the United States doesn&#39;t stop this, we will stop it,&quot; Cavusoglu was reported as saying on Tuesday.

&quot;Our goal is not to clash with Russians, the Syrian regime or the United States, it is to battle the terrorist organisation,&quot; broadcaster Haberturk quoted him as saying.

&quot;We will not live with fear and threats,&quot; Cavusoglu said.

He tweeted that a lieutenant had become the second Turkish soldier to be killed in the operation. The Observatory said 43 rebels fighting alongside the Turks had also been killed, as well as 38 on the Kurdish side.

Later on Tuesday Cavusoglu discussed the crisis with US&nbsp;Secretary of State Rex Tillerson during a conference in Paris.

Erdogan&#39;s spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, said the military operations would continue until Syrian refugees in Turkey &quot;return home safely and the separatist terror organisation has been cleansed from the region&quot;.

The Kurdish-led administration of northeastern Syria appealed for a mass mobilisation in defence of Afrin. &quot;We call on all our people to defend Afrin and its pride, and contribute in all the related activities,&quot; it said, without elaborating.

AUN&nbsp;report, citing local sources, said about 5,000 people in the Afrin district had been displaced as of Monday but that some of the most vulnerable had been unable to flee. It said the United Nations was ready to provide aid to 50,000 in Afrin. 
&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump plans to raise concerns with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in a phone call expected on Wednesday

Turkey has killed at least 260 Syrian Kurdish fighters and Islamic State militants in its four-day-old offensive into the Kurdish-dominated Afrin region of northwest Syria, the Turkish military said on Tuesday. US President Donald Trump plans to raise concerns with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in a phone call expected on Wednesday about Ankara's offensive against US-backed Kurdish YPG forces in Afrin, a senior US official said. French President Emmanuel Macron also voiced disquiet, a few hours after Turkey's foreign minister said it wanted to avoid any clash with US, Russian or Syrian government forces during its offensive but would do whatever necessary for its security. The air and ground operation has opened a new front in Syria's multi-sided civil war and could threaten US plans to stabilise and rebuild a large area of northeast Syria - beyond President Bashar al-Assad's control - where Washington helped a force dominated by the YPG to drive out Islamic State militants. The United States and Russia both have military forces in Syria backing opposing sides and have called for restraint on the part of Ankara's "Operation Olive Branch" to crush the YPG in the Afrin region near Turkey's southern border. A senior Trump administration official, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity, said Ankara had sent "conflicting signals" about the scope of the offensive. "We would urge them to limit the incursion as much as possible," the official said, who said the phone call would happen soon. Another official - as well as Turkey's foreign minister - said Erdogan and Trump planned to speak on Wednesday. A statement by Macron's office said: "Taking into account Turkey's security imperatives, the president expressed to his Turkish counterpart his concerns following the military intervention launched on Saturday in Afrin." Erdogan told Macron on Tuesday Turkey was taking all measures to prevent civilian casualties in the Afrin operation, sources at the presidential palace said. The two leaders agreed to stay in close contact on the issue. The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin had also discussed Turkey's military operation Erdogan by phone and that Syria's territorial integrity and sovereignty had to be respected. A Kremlin statement said both men stressed the importance of continuing their two countries' joint work to try to find a peaceful resolution to Syria's crisis. Russia has been Assad's most powerful ally against rebels and militants in Syria. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu reiterated Ankara's demand that Washington stops supporting the YPG. Ankara has said the operation will be swift, but Erdogan's spokesman signalled an open-ended cross-border campaign, saying it would end only when some 3.5 million Syrian refugees now living in Turkey could safely return home. The United States hopes to use the YPG's control in northern Syria to give it the diplomatic muscle it needs to revive U.N.-led talks in Geneva on a deal that would end Syria’s civil war. Near breaking point Ankara has been infuriated by the U.S. support for the YPG, which is one of several issues that have brought ties between Washington and its Muslim NATO ally close to breaking point. "The future of our relations depends on the step the United States will take next," Cavusoglu said. Turkey's military, the second largest in NATO, has conducted air strikes and artillery barrages against targets in Afrin, and its soldiers and allied Syrian rebels tried to thrust into the Kurdish-held district from west, north and eastern flanks. With heavy cloud cover hindering air support in the last 24 hours, advances have been limited and the Kurdish militia have retaken some territory. Turkish troops and the Syrian fighters have been trying to take the summit of Bursaya Hill, overlooking the eastern approach to Afrin town. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said 23 civilians had been killed in Turkish shelling and air strikes, and thousands were fleeing the fighting. However, Syrian government forces were preventing people from crossing government-held checkpoints to reach the Kurdish-held districts of nearby Aleppo city, it said. YPG Threat US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Turkey's offensive distracted from efforts to defeat Islamic State. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the United States wanted to see Turkey "de-escalate," which Trump would raise in the call with Erdogan. Ankara says the jihadist group is largely finished in Syria and that the greater threat comes from the YPG, which it sees as an extension of a Kurdish group that has waged a decades-long separatist insurgency inside Turkey. Erdogan has said Turkey aims to destroy YPG control not just in the Afrin enclave but also in the mainly Arab town of Manbij to the east. "Terrorists in Manbij are constantly firing provocation shots. If the United States doesn't stop this, we will stop it," Cavusoglu was reported as saying on Tuesday. "Our goal is not to clash with Russians, the Syrian regime or the United States, it is to battle the terrorist organisation," broadcaster Haberturk quoted him as saying. "We will not live with fear and threats," Cavusoglu said. He tweeted that a lieutenant had become the second Turkish soldier to be killed in the operation. The Observatory said 43 rebels fighting alongside the Turks had also been killed, as well as 38 on the Kurdish side. Later on Tuesday Cavusoglu discussed the crisis with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson during a conference in Paris. Erdogan's spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, said the military operations would continue until Syrian refugees in Turkey "return home safely and the separatist terror organisation has been cleansed from the region". The Kurdish-led administration of northeastern Syria appealed for a mass mobilisation in defence of Afrin. "We call on all our people to defend Afrin and its pride, and contribute in all the related activities," it said, without elaborating. AUN report, citing local sources, said about 5,000 people in the Afrin district had been displaced as of Monday but that some of the most vulnerable had been unable to flee. It said the United Nations was ready to provide aid to 50,000 in Afrin.

Turkey kills at least 260 Kurdish, Islamic State fighters in Syria offensive

Police&nbsp;deployed&nbsp;overnight in the northern&nbsp;Iraqi&nbsp;oil&nbsp;city&nbsp;of Kirkuk to prevent any outbreak of ethnic violence&nbsp;ahead&nbsp;of a referendum on Kurdish&nbsp;independence, local residents said.

The Kurdish region plans to go&nbsp;ahead&nbsp;with the Sept. 25&nbsp;vote&nbsp;despite Baghdad&#39;s warning it is &quot;playing with fire&quot; and U.S. declarations it could undermine the fight against Islamic State forces. The referendum, though, could raise particular&nbsp;tensions&nbsp;in Kirkuk, where Kurds vie with Turkmen and Arabs for power.

Kurdish security and the&nbsp;city&nbsp;police&nbsp;erected checkpoints across the&nbsp;city&nbsp;after a Kurd was killed in a clash with the guards of a Turkmen political party office in the&nbsp;city.

Two other Kurds and one Turkmen security guard were also wounded in the clash that broke out when a Kurdish convoy celebrating the referendum, carrying Kurdish flags, drove by the Turkmen party office, security sources said. The Kurdish dead and wounded were among those celebrating, they said.

Turkey, which has put troops and tanks on exercises close to the border with the Kurdish region, has long seen itself as the protector of the Turkmen minority. When&nbsp;Iraqi&nbsp;Kurds raised their flag over the&nbsp;city&nbsp;in April, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan declared that Kirkuk could not be a Kurdish&nbsp;city.

Turkish soldiers, scheduled for manoeuvres until the day after the referendum is due, could be seen digging in at a point about two km (a mile) from the frontier.

Turkey, however, has cultivated close political and business relations with the Kurdish regional government and would be reluctant to disrupt especially&nbsp;oil&nbsp;commerce by any intervention.

Tensions&nbsp;rose after the Kurdish-led provincial council&nbsp;voted this month to include the&nbsp;city&nbsp;in the referendum despite the fact that it lies outside the official boundaries of the Kurdistan region.

Kurdish peshmerga fighters seized Kirkuk and other disputed territories when the&nbsp;Iraqi&nbsp;army collapsed in the face of Islamic State in 2014, preventing its&nbsp;oilfields from falling into the militants&#39; hands. In recent months the militants have been driven back across Iraq, but remain dug in close to Kirkuk.

Iraqi&nbsp;armed forces announced on Tuesday the start of an attack to dislodge Islamic State from the town of Ana, as they push westward toward al-Qaim, the border post with Syria.

Iranian-backed&nbsp;Iraqi&nbsp;Shi&#39;ite militias, highlighting the broader perils emanating from the&nbsp;vote, have threatened to dislodge the Kurdish peshmerga forces from Kirkuk should the Kurds persist in holding the&nbsp;vote.

The Kurdish authorities are showing no sign of bowing despite intense international pressure and regional appeals to call off the&nbsp;vote&nbsp;which Baghdad says is unconstitutional and a prelude to breaking up the country.

Iran and Turkey fear contagion for their own Kurdish populations. Turkey has been fighting a Kurdish insurgency in its south-east since 1984

Iraqi&nbsp;Kurdish President Massoud Barzani said late on Monday he would proceed with the&nbsp;vote&nbsp;in the absence of any guarantee by the international community that Baghdad would hold talks on Kurdish&nbsp;independence,

&ldquo;Referendum and dialogue are means toward&nbsp;independence,&rdquo; Barzani told visiting defence minister Michael Fallon, during a meeting in Erbil, the seat of the Kurdish government.

The Kurdish region plans to go?ahead?with the Sept. 25?vote?despite Baghdad's warning it is "playing with fire" and U.S. declarations it could undermine the fight against Islamic State forces.

Police deployed overnight in the northern Iraqi oil city of Kirkuk to prevent any outbreak of ethnic violence ahead of a referendum on Kurdish independence, local residents said. The Kurdish region plans to go ahead with the Sept. 25 vote despite Baghdad's warning it is "playing with fire" and U.S. declarations it could undermine the fight against Islamic State forces. The referendum, though, could raise particular tensions in Kirkuk, where Kurds vie with Turkmen and Arabs for power. Kurdish security and the city police erected checkpoints across the city after a Kurd was killed in a clash with the guards of a Turkmen political party office in the city. Two other Kurds and one Turkmen security guard were also wounded in the clash that broke out when a Kurdish convoy celebrating the referendum, carrying Kurdish flags, drove by the Turkmen party office, security sources said. The Kurdish dead and wounded were among those celebrating, they said. Turkey, which has put troops and tanks on exercises close to the border with the Kurdish region, has long seen itself as the protector of the Turkmen minority. When Iraqi Kurds raised their flag over the city in April, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan declared that Kirkuk could not be a Kurdish city. Turkish soldiers, scheduled for manoeuvres until the day after the referendum is due, could be seen digging in at a point about two km (a mile) from the frontier. Turkey, however, has cultivated close political and business relations with the Kurdish regional government and would be reluctant to disrupt especially oil commerce by any intervention. Tensions rose after the Kurdish-led provincial council voted this month to include the city in the referendum despite the fact that it lies outside the official boundaries of the Kurdistan region. Kurdish peshmerga fighters seized Kirkuk and other disputed territories when the Iraqi army collapsed in the face of Islamic State in 2014, preventing its oilfields from falling into the militants' hands. In recent months the militants have been driven back across Iraq, but remain dug in close to Kirkuk. Iraqi armed forces announced on Tuesday the start of an attack to dislodge Islamic State from the town of Ana, as they push westward toward al-Qaim, the border post with Syria. Iranian-backed Iraqi Shi'ite militias, highlighting the broader perils emanating from the vote, have threatened to dislodge the Kurdish peshmerga forces from Kirkuk should the Kurds persist in holding the vote. The Kurdish authorities are showing no sign of bowing despite intense international pressure and regional appeals to call off the vote which Baghdad says is unconstitutional and a prelude to breaking up the country. Iran and Turkey fear contagion for their own Kurdish populations. Turkey has been fighting a Kurdish insurgency in its south-east since 1984 Iraqi Kurdish President Massoud Barzani said late on Monday he would proceed with the vote in the absence of any guarantee by the international community that Baghdad would hold talks on Kurdish independence, “Referendum and dialogue are means toward independence,” Barzani told visiting defence minister Michael Fallon, during a meeting in Erbil, the seat of the Kurdish government.

Police deployed in Iraq's Kirkuk as tensions rise ahead of independence vote

Turkey&nbsp;on Thursday welcomed an&nbsp;Iraqi&nbsp;parliament move to reject a referendum&nbsp;on&nbsp;Kurdish&nbsp;independence.

The parliament in Baghdad authorised the prime minister to &quot;take all measures&quot; to preserve Iraq&#39;s unity in response to the move to hold an independence&nbsp;referendum&nbsp;in Iraq&#39;s semi-autonomous Kurdish&nbsp;region on Sept. 25.

Kurdish&nbsp;leader Massoud Barzani vowed to press ahead with the vote, calling it &quot;a natural right&quot;.

&quot;Barzani&#39;s&nbsp;referendum&nbsp;decision is a historic mistake.&nbsp;Turkey&nbsp;will follow policies that take Iraq&#39;s territorial integrity as a basis,&quot; Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said.

&quot;The northern Iraq&nbsp;referendum&nbsp;must be cancelled, if not it will have a cost and retribution,&quot; he said, adding the move would erode the region&#39;s peace and bring security risks.

Turkey&nbsp;has the region&#39;s largest&nbsp;Kurdish&nbsp;population and fears a &#39;Yes&#39; vote could fuel separatism in its southeast where&nbsp;Kurdish&nbsp;militants have waged an insurgency for three decades in which more than 40,000 people have been killed.

Ankara has built solid ties with Barzani&#39;s administration, founded on strong economic and energy links as well as Ankara and Erbil&#39;s shared suspicions of other&nbsp;Kurdish&nbsp;groups and Iraq&#39;s central government.

Iran and Syria also oppose the vote, fearing it could fan separatism among their own&nbsp;Kurdish populations.

Western powers worry the plebiscite - which would include the oil-producing city of Kirkuk - could ignite conflict with the central government in Baghdad and divert attention from the war against Islamic State militants.

Turkey&#39;s Foreign Ministry, in a statement on Thursday, said: &quot;We find the (Iraqi&nbsp;Kurdish) leadership&#39;s insistent stance regarding the&nbsp;referendum&nbsp;and its increasingly emotional statements worrying.

&quot;It should be noted that this insistence will definitely have a cost,&quot; it added. &quot;We call on them to act with good sense and abandon this erroneous approach immediately.&quot;

The parliament in Baghdad authorised the prime minister to "take all measures" to preserve Iraq's unity in response to the move to hold an independence?referendum?in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish?region on Sept. 25.

Turkey on Thursday welcomed an Iraqi parliament move to reject a referendum on Kurdish independence. The parliament in Baghdad authorised the prime minister to "take all measures" to preserve Iraq's unity in response to the move to hold an independence referendum in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region on Sept. 25. Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani vowed to press ahead with the vote, calling it "a natural right". "Barzani's referendum decision is a historic mistake. Turkey will follow policies that take Iraq's territorial integrity as a basis," Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said. "The northern Iraq referendum must be cancelled, if not it will have a cost and retribution," he said, adding the move would erode the region's peace and bring security risks. Turkey has the region's largest Kurdish population and fears a 'Yes' vote could fuel separatism in its southeast where Kurdish militants have waged an insurgency for three decades in which more than 40,000 people have been killed. Ankara has built solid ties with Barzani's administration, founded on strong economic and energy links as well as Ankara and Erbil's shared suspicions of other Kurdish groups and Iraq's central government. Iran and Syria also oppose the vote, fearing it could fan separatism among their own Kurdish populations. Western powers worry the plebiscite - which would include the oil-producing city of Kirkuk - could ignite conflict with the central government in Baghdad and divert attention from the war against Islamic State militants. Turkey's Foreign Ministry, in a statement on Thursday, said: "We find the (Iraqi Kurdish) leadership's insistent stance regarding the referendum and its increasingly emotional statements worrying. "It should be noted that this insistence will definitely have a cost," it added. "We call on them to act with good sense and abandon this erroneous approach immediately."

Iraqi Kurdish referendum historic mistake: Turkey

When a school opened three years ago in Turkey&#39;s biggest Kurdish-majority city, it was a symbol of Ankara&#39;s changing -- and more liberal -- attitudes toward Kurdish-language education.

The school in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir was one of five primary schools since 2013 that offered a fully Kurdish-language education.

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From 2014 onwards, it was also the first school in Turkey to give parents their children&#39;s report cards in the Kurdish language.

But that has now come to an end after it became the first Kurdish school to be closed down in October by the governor.

All five such schools in the southeast have now been shut.

Some 238 students aged between five and 11 have been left without a school place in the new academic year.

The move comes after a fragile ceasefire collapsed last year with Kurdish militants waging an insurgency inside Turkey and a crackdown since the July 15 failed coup on those suspected of links to rebels.

&#39;Unauthorised activities&#39;

Parents and teachers only discovered the school had been shut down when a seal was placed on the door by police saying it was closed due to violations of Turkish laws.

But the school&#39;s defenders say it was always acting outside of the law against offering a fully Kurdish language education but with the state&#39;s knowledge and tacit approval.

Kurdish language education had been forbidden under the Turkish constitution, which states: &quot;No language other than Turkish shall be taught as a mother tongue to Turkish citizens at any institution of education.&quot;

Some Turkish officials also feared the use of the Kurdish language would divide the country along ethnic lines.

But in June 2012, then-prime minister now President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Kurdish could be taught in public schools as optional courses if there were sufficient number of students.&nbsp;

It was part of a number of government reforms under Erdogan to ease restrictions on the Kurdish language and Kurdish broadcasts under pressure from the European Union as part of Ankara&#39;s membership bid.

Sources in the governor&#39;s office told AFP that the school was closed because of &quot;unauthorised activities&quot;, while the latest report by the schools management board on it was critical.

The school was named after Ferzad Kemangar, an Iranian Kurdish primary school teacher executed by Tehran in 2010 on charges of membership in the outlawed Kurdish militant group PEJAK, which his supporters have always vehemently rejected.

Two days before closing on October 9, the inspectors visited the school and their report said the education provided was &quot;contrary to national education regulations and legislation&quot;.

Despite reforms, the status of such schools was never made officially legal.

&#39;Waiting for my school&#39;

Adil Ercan, a teacher at Ferzad, said inspectors did not have anything &quot;unfavourable or unsuitable&quot; to say about the school.

He added, they were told on October 7 the school would be closed and would have 15 days to challenge the decision.

But two days later, parents called teachers in the evening asking what had happened after the school was sealed with only a piece of cardboard with a red seal.

&quot;We arrived in the morning and it was sealed. They did not give us any reason. We will seek our legal rights,&quot; Ercan said.

Disappointed students and parents told AFP that they would wait at home until it opened again, including seven-year-old Sarya Alici.

&quot;I am waiting for my school. Whenever it opens, I will go. What will I do if it doesn&#39;t open? I will wait at home.&quot;

Cihan Koyun said her family would not send children to another school. &quot;We are waiting for our school to open. Whatever happens, our school must open.&quot;

Since the attempted putsch, pro-Kurdish media outlets have been shut down, mayors in majority Kurdish cities have been arrested and lawmakers from the pro-Kurdish Peoples&#39; Democratic Party (HDP) have also been jailed under the state of emergency, imposed late July.&nbsp;

They are accused of acting as propaganda for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers&#39; Party (PKK), a proscribed terror group by Turkey and its Western allies.

The Kurdish militants are not linked to the attempted coup and critics say that the government is using the state of emergency to intimidate all its critics.

The government insists it is not attacking the Kurdish community, an estimated 20 percent of the population -- but dealing with PKK &quot;terrorists&quot; fighting against Turkey since 1984.

(AFP) 
&nbsp;

The school in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir offered a fully Kurdish-language education, not allowed under Turkish law

When a school opened three years ago in Turkey's biggest Kurdish-majority city, it was a symbol of Ankara's changing -- and more liberal -- attitudes toward Kurdish-language education. The school in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir was one of five primary schools since 2013 that offered a fully Kurdish-language education. Turkish officials feared the use of the Kurdish language would divide the country along ethnic lines × From 2014 onwards, it was also the first school in Turkey to give parents their children's report cards in the Kurdish language. But that has now come to an end after it became the first Kurdish school to be closed down in October by the governor. All five such schools in the southeast have now been shut. Some 238 students aged between five and 11 have been left without a school place in the new academic year. The move comes after a fragile ceasefire collapsed last year with Kurdish militants waging an insurgency inside Turkey and a crackdown since the July 15 failed coup on those suspected of links to rebels. 'Unauthorised activities' Parents and teachers only discovered the school had been shut down when a seal was placed on the door by police saying it was closed due to violations of Turkish laws. But the school's defenders say it was always acting outside of the law against offering a fully Kurdish language education but with the state's knowledge and tacit approval. Kurdish language education had been forbidden under the Turkish constitution, which states: "No language other than Turkish shall be taught as a mother tongue to Turkish citizens at any institution of education." Some Turkish officials also feared the use of the Kurdish language would divide the country along ethnic lines. But in June 2012, then-prime minister now President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Kurdish could be taught in public schools as optional courses if there were sufficient number of students. It was part of a number of government reforms under Erdogan to ease restrictions on the Kurdish language and Kurdish broadcasts under pressure from the European Union as part of Ankara's membership bid. Sources in the governor's office told AFP that the school was closed because of "unauthorised activities", while the latest report by the schools management board on it was critical. The school was named after Ferzad Kemangar, an Iranian Kurdish primary school teacher executed by Tehran in 2010 on charges of membership in the outlawed Kurdish militant group PEJAK, which his supporters have always vehemently rejected. Two days before closing on October 9, the inspectors visited the school and their report said the education provided was "contrary to national education regulations and legislation". Despite reforms, the status of such schools was never made officially legal. 'Waiting for my school' Adil Ercan, a teacher at Ferzad, said inspectors did not have anything "unfavourable or unsuitable" to say about the school. He added, they were told on October 7 the school would be closed and would have 15 days to challenge the decision. But two days later, parents called teachers in the evening asking what had happened after the school was sealed with only a piece of cardboard with a red seal. "We arrived in the morning and it was sealed. They did not give us any reason. We will seek our legal rights," Ercan said. Disappointed students and parents told AFP that they would wait at home until it opened again, including seven-year-old Sarya Alici. "I am waiting for my school. Whenever it opens, I will go. What will I do if it doesn't open? I will wait at home." Cihan Koyun said her family would not send children to another school. "We are waiting for our school to open. Whatever happens, our school must open." Since the attempted putsch, pro-Kurdish media outlets have been shut down, mayors in majority Kurdish cities have been arrested and lawmakers from the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) have also been jailed under the state of emergency, imposed late July. They are accused of acting as propaganda for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a proscribed terror group by Turkey and its Western allies. The Kurdish militants are not linked to the attempted coup and critics say that the government is using the state of emergency to intimidate all its critics. The government insists it is not attacking the Kurdish community, an estimated 20 percent of the population -- but dealing with PKK "terrorists" fighting against Turkey since 1984. (AFP)

Once a beacon of hope in Turkey, Kurdish school shut down

About 2,000 Kurds and pro-Kurdish supporters peacefully gathered in Paris on Saturday,&nbsp;protesting against the Turkish government following the arrests of leading Kurdish politicians.

The leaders of Turkey&#39;s pro-Kurdish opposition Peoples&#39;&nbsp;Democratic Party (HDP) were jailed pending trial on Friday&nbsp;as part of a terrorism investigation, drawing condemnation in the West of a crackdown on dissent under President Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkish authorities also detained nine officials from the country&#39;s main pro-Kurdish opposition party on Saturday, a party official said, a day after the formal arrests of HDP co-leaders Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag.

In Paris, demonstrators gathered at Place de la Republique holding up anti-Erdogan signs and unfurling large Kurdish flags.

&quot;Yes we are here because in Turkey they imprison our Kurdish lawmakers who represent the Kurdish people and we don&#39;t agree with that. We will never agree with that. The Kurdish people are on their feet,&quot; said a Kurdish protester named Emilie.

The HDP, Turkey&#39;s&nbsp;third-largest party, made history last year by becoming the first Kurdish-rooted party to win the 10 per cent of the vote required to enter parliament.

European officials have raised concerns about Turkey&#39;s detention or suspension of more than 110,000 officials in the wake of the failed coup in July, including judges, teachers, police and civil servants. Some 170 newspapers, magazines, TV stations and news agencies have been closed in the crackdown, leaving 2,500 journalists unemployed, Turkey&#39;s journalists&#39;&nbsp;association has said.

&quot;We are gathered to show everyone, especially Europeans what we want, what is happening in Turkey and get them to stop helping Turkey continue in their anti-democratic activities,&quot; said Kurdish representative in France Ismail Cakici.

Erdogan and the ruling AK Party accuse the HDP of links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has carried out a violent insurgency in Turkey&#39;s mainly Kurdish southeast for three decades. The HDP denies direct links and says it is working for a peaceful resolution of the Kurdish conflict.&nbsp;

(Reuters)

The leaders of Turkey's pro-Kurdish opposition Peoples'?Democratic Party (HDP) were jailed Friday, drawing condemnation from the West

About 2,000 Kurds and pro-Kurdish supporters peacefully gathered in Paris on Saturday, protesting against the Turkish government following the arrests of leading Kurdish politicians. The leaders of Turkey's pro-Kurdish opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) were jailed pending trial on Friday as part of a terrorism investigation, drawing condemnation in the West of a crackdown on dissent under President Tayyip Erdogan. Turkish authorities also detained nine officials from the country's main pro-Kurdish opposition party on Saturday, a party official said, a day after the formal arrests of HDP co-leaders Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag. In Paris, demonstrators gathered at Place de la Republique holding up anti-Erdogan signs and unfurling large Kurdish flags. "Yes we are here because in Turkey they imprison our Kurdish lawmakers who represent the Kurdish people and we don't agree with that. We will never agree with that. The Kurdish people are on their feet," said a Kurdish protester named Emilie. The HDP, Turkey's third-largest party, made history last year by becoming the first Kurdish-rooted party to win the 10 per cent of the vote required to enter parliament. European officials have raised concerns about Turkey's detention or suspension of more than 110,000 officials in the wake of the failed coup in July, including judges, teachers, police and civil servants. Some 170 newspapers, magazines, TV stations and news agencies have been closed in the crackdown, leaving 2,500 journalists unemployed, Turkey's journalists' association has said. "We are gathered to show everyone, especially Europeans what we want, what is happening in Turkey and get them to stop helping Turkey continue in their anti-democratic activities," said Kurdish representative in France Ismail Cakici. Erdogan and the ruling AK Party accuse the HDP of links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has carried out a violent insurgency in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast for three decades. The HDP denies direct links and says it is working for a peaceful resolution of the Kurdish conflict. (Reuters)

Thousands of Kurdish supporters in Paris protest against Turkish authorities

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