Reports of heavy Turkish artillery fire all along the border with Syria this morning.
ISIS launched an attack on Kurdish held Raqqa.
Turkish troops reportedly repelled from several locations.
Confirmed heavy fighting north of and around Tel Abiad (which is north of Raqqa).
At least one Turkish armored vehicle destroyed (not a tank).
Turkish special forces being committed to Tel Abiad in an attempt to outflank Kurd defenses after frontal assault failed.
...
Which Syrian Groups Are Involved in Turkey's Syria Offensive?
https://www.voanews.com/extremism-watch/which-syrian-groups-are-involved-turkeys-syria-offensive
Reports of U.S. air patrols launched near Ain Issa, roughly 40km from the Turkey-Syria border.
There's likely some form of Turkey-US air deconfliction ongoing since Turkey launched air strikes.
U.S. air patrols deeper in Syria might suggest new lines being established.
===
Assad has offered a deal with SDF, but it's not really a deal.
Turkey has made an offer to the remnants of the real FSA, again, it's not really a deal.
In both cases it's, "do what we say or we'll kill you all."
...
U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Gen. Miller just described Turkey's incursion into NE Syria as one between Tely Abyad and Arin.
Securing ISIS prisoners is not our responsibility, Gen. Miller also said.
He also confirms that Turkey knows, as of this morning, that they will be responsible for securing the ISIS prisoners within the incursion zone.
===
US SOF soldiers interviewed say that if Turks go to far into their AO they will fire on them.
...
Syrian news (massive grain of salt) says Turks and their proxy force (SNA) have captured Ras al-Ayn.
===
The clashes are reportedly targeting SDF in al-Tabiya, just south of Deir ez Zour city, on the Euphrates river.
That's not far from the Conoco Gas fields.
It's also 1 village away from where U.S. forces killed 100s of pro-Assad & Russian PMC forces in Feb 2018.
...
Local reports now say U.S. jets are bombing Iran-backed militias positioned across the Euphrates river, further south near the village of al-Abbas.
===
Updates courtesy of Charles Lister and Bill Roggio. Maps courtesy of Nathan Ruser.
Quote marks removed due to something something Mastodon.
The Turks and their proxies have *not* taken the border town of Sari Kani (also known as Ras al-Ayn).
They have cut three of the four major roads leading into the town, but Kurdish forces are still holding the town and the southern road.
Pentagon’s DeWalt adds all US troops accounted for w/no injuries.
US Forces have not withdrawn from Kobani.
US remains opposed to the Turkish military move in Syria and especially objects to ops outside the Security Mechanism zone and in areas where the Turks know US troops are.
Turkey's 'Spring of Peace' could become a winter of war in Syria
https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/many-flaws-turkeys-syria-policy
[ If successful, this would put Turkey in control of most of Syria's oil and gas resources, presently in the hands of the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), not to mention water sources and some of Syria's best agricultural land. ]
- The Grey Man
The Kurds have announced that they will be seeking a deal with Assad and Russia to protect them from Turkey.
"You have given up on us. You are leaving us to be slaughtered," Gen. Mazloum told the Deputy Special Envoy to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, William Roebuck Thursday, according to an internal US government readout that has been obtained by CNN
"I need to know if you are capable of protecting my people, of stopping these bombs falling on us or not. I need to know, because if you're not, I need to make a deal with Russia and the regime now and invite their planes to protect this region."
Mazloum "I've been holding myself for two days from going to the press and saying that America abandoned us and that I would like you to get out of our areas now so that I can invite Russian and regime planes to take over this airspace.
Either you stop this bombing on our people now or move aside so we can let in the Russians." If @cmoc_sdf
SDF Gen Mazloum turns to Russia for air protection....can US special forces even stay in Syria?
@Render I'm ashamed too.
@Render Sickening. They are fighting 2 wars to survive. ISIS,DAESH and Turkey.
Unless I’m missing something, that’s like making a deal with the devil, to protect you from Mephistopheles?
@Kitty62862 Pragmatism.
Agreed. Absolutely.
Make a deal with the bear, to protect you from the wolf.
Do your best not to appear appetizing.
@Render that’s exactly what Russia is hoping for? sadly the Kurds are probably no safer and real bad news US and Europe.
@Render
🤦🏻♀️
... Damn the 🍊💩🐒...
He has dishonored this country, our servicemen, our citizens ... He has shat on our constitution, our allies, and our core principles, time and again. I honestly can't understand why anyone still supports him. How can they not see this?
@Render thats what I'm seeing
@Render
One thing has me confused.
I am guessing Assad is fine with getting rid of the Kurds?
But why would he be fine with Turkey controlling Syrian oil and water resources?
In other words, why is Assad not fighting ANY of this?
I don't understand.
@stueytheround I have answers, but you'll have to wait until after I feed my woman.
@stueytheround Assad hates the Kurds. To him they're just another rebel group (that are sitting on Syria's richest oil revenue area) to be exterminated.
The Syrian Army is a wreck, barely able to hold on to Damascus. Without Russian and Iranian help Assad would have fallen several years ago. Assad is ok with Turkey going in because it means he doesn't have to use his own troops to retake the region.
@Render Gotcha.
Kobanî, the city that resisted ISIS for months and paved the way for its defeat is now being shelled by Turkish army.