Turkey-backed Syrian rebels seized a number of villages and towns from Kurdish-led forces in northern Syria on Sunday amid Turkish airstrikes and shelling that killed at least 35 people, mostly civilians, according to rebels and a monitoring group. The operation, labeled Euphrates Shield, is also aimed at pushing back U.S.-allied Kurdish forces. Various factions of the Turkey-backed Syrian rebels said Sunday they have seized at least four villages and one town from Kurdish-led forces south of Jarablus. Turkey is a leading backer of the rebels fighting to overthrow Syrian President Bashar Assad. An Associated Press reporter in the Turkish border town of Karkamis spotted at least three Turkish jets flying into Syria amid heavy Turkish shelling from inside Syrian territory on Sunday morning.

Source: CBC News August 28, 2016 11:03 UTC