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.
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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.
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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."
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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.
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US SOF soldiers interviewed say that if Turks go to far into their AO they will fire on them.
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Syrian news (massive grain of salt) says Turks and their proxy force (SNA) have captured Ras al-Ayn.
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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.
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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
@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.
@Render Gotcha.
@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.