RAS AL-AIN, Syria — Battles raged Friday as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to press an assault against Kurdish forces in Syria, dismissing “threats” from other countries while the U.S. warned Ankara of fresh sanctions. ‘Heavy fighting’The Kurdish forces targeted by Turkey were the U.S.-led coalition’s main ground partner in years of battle against the Islamic State group and its now-defunct “caliphate”. In Al-Hol, a camp holding relatives of IS suspects which lies outside the area targeted by Turkey, women started riots Friday that Kurdish forces swiftly put down. Kurdish forces were putting up stiff resistance but experts predict they will not hold out very long without outside assistance. Most of those fleeing were heading east towards the city of Hasakeh, which has not been targeted by Turkey.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer October 11, 2019 23:37 UTC