Middle East Monitor: Stakes rise in Turkey’s Afrin assault as pro-Assad militia arrive
Turkey warned on Wednesday that pro-Damascus forces would face “serious consequences” for entering Syria’s Afrin region to help Kurdish fighters repel a Turkish offensive, Reuters reports.
Their arrival raises the spectre of wider escalation on Syria’s northern battlefront, which includes the Syrian army, allied Iran-linked militias, Kurdish forces, rebels, Turkish troops, and Russian and American forces.
The Syrian Kurdish YPG militia said Turkish planes bombed a town in Afrin and fighting raged on the ground on Wednesday. Turkey launched its assault last month to drive out the YPG, which it deems a menace along its border.
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WNU Editor: Can anyone say "quagmire"?
More News On Turkey's Military Offensive In Syria's Afrin Region
Turkey's 'Legitimate Target'? Over 400 Syrian Fighters Reportedly in Afrin -- Sputnik
Kurdish YPG militia says Syrian army must come help stop Turkey -- Reuters
Turkey Ready for Talks to Avoid Clash With Syria -- Bloomberg
Turkey Mulls Talks to Avoid War As Russia and U.S. Allies Chant 'One Syria' -- Newsweek
Turkey ready for talks to avoid clash with Assad's regime -- Independent.ie
Failure risk in plans behind Ankara's anger at pro-Damascus forces' entry into Afrin: analysts -- New China
Syria's Afrin is a multi-national powderkeg -- The Australian
Afrin explained: a multi-sided conflict where enemies are allies and allies are enemies -- Mina Aldroubi, The National
Turkey’s Afrin assault bears little fruit -- Sami Moubayed, Special to Gulf News