WorldANKARA, AFP -Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday that the military operation supporting Syrian opposition fighters in northern Syria will target the IS-held city of Raqa. After retaking the city, they will target Manbij, captured by Syrian Kurdish militia in August, and “then we will go towards Raqa”. The Turkey-backed rebels comprise different Syrian opposition brigades rather than a single organised force, according to experts. The operation dubbed “Euphrates Shield” has another purpose: to halt the westward advance of the Syrian YPG Kurdish militia. But Erdogan has repeatedly said any operation to retake Raqa cannot be done with YPG elements and on Thursday, said the Turkish operation would target Manbij as well.

Source: Sunday Times October 27, 2016 11:46 UTC