Oct 24 Car bomb explodes in Syrian town held by Turkey-backed fighters By Associated Press The blast went off in the town of Tal Abyad outside the headquarters of a militia of Syrian fighters allied to Turkey. Continue reading
Oct 24 U.S. defense secretary calls Turkey’s offensive in Syria ‘unwarranted’ By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press Mark Esper said the invasion of northeastern Syria jeopardizes gains made in in recent years as the U.S.-led coalition and allied Syrian Kurdish forces battled the Islamic State group. Continue reading
Oct 23 Watch 4:07 As Turkey and Russia expand reach within Syria, U.S. scrambles to reassure allies President Trump says he’s lifting sanctions on Turkey, after Turkey and Russia extended a cease-fire while Syrian Kurds evacuate the Syrian border region. Trump credited U.S. military withdrawal from northeast Syria for delivering “a much more peaceful and stable area,”… Continue watching
Oct 23 Watch 5:32 For northern Syrians who endured ISIS, U.S. withdrawal means a new struggle to survive More than 170,000 people have fled their homes in northern Syria since Turkey launched its offensive two weeks ago. Civilians in the area have lived through years of unrest, including revolution against the Assad regime, the battle to defeat ISIS… Continue watching
Oct 23 WATCH: Trump lifts Turkey sanctions, calls cease-fire ‘permanent’ Claiming success at the U.S.-brokered effort, Trump said Wednesday, "this was an outcome created by us."… Continue reading
Oct 22 Russia, Turkey seal power in northeast Syria with accord By Suzan Fraser, Vladimir Isachenkov, Associated Press The leaders of Russia and Turkey announced an agreement Turkey for their two countries' forces to jointly patrol almost the entire northeastern Syrian border after the withdrawal of Kurdish fighters, filling the void left by departing American troops after President… Continue reading
Oct 22 Kurds say they have withdrawn from Syrian border region By Suzan Fraser, Vladimir Isachenkov, Associated Press Turkey had threatened to relaunch its offensive if the withdrawal was not carried out. Continue reading
Oct 22 U.S. troops leaving Syria can’t stay in Iraq, Iraq’s military says By Qassim Abdul-Zahra, Zeina Karam, Associated Press The U.S. had planned for troops leaving Syria to go to western Iraq and continue to conduct operations against the Islamic State group to prevent its resurgence in the region. Continue reading
Oct 21 U.S. may now keep some troops in Syria to guard oil fields By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press The Pentagon chief said the plan was still in the discussion phase and had not yet been presented to Trump, who has repeatedly said the Islamic State has been defeated. Continue reading
Oct 20 Pelosi in Jordan for ‘vital discussions’ amid Syria crisis By Associated Press House Speaker Nancy Pelosi led a group of American lawmakers on a surprise visit to Jordan to discuss "the deepening crisis" in Syria amid a shaky U.S.-brokered cease-fire. Continue reading