It was unclear whether other aid organizations have been similarly affected, and Turkish government officials could not immediately be reached for comment. The larger Turkish goal has been to prevent U.S.-backed Syrian Kurds, whom Turkey considers terrorists, from expanding their control over the border region. Turkey has said it wants to create a safe zone inside Syria along the border, 60 miles long and about 28 miles deep. Russia has pushed to expand collaboration in Syria, something that President Trump has said he would favor in the fight against the Islamic State. Turkey has labeled the YPG an affiliate of the separatist Turkish Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which Washington and Moscow have designated a terrorist group.

Source: Washington Post March 08, 2017 00:22 UTC