From the Liveblog of
Monday, August 10, 2015
Nusra Front withdraws from Turkish border area
BEIRUT — Al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria says it is withdrawing from areas along the border with Turkey where Ankara and Washington hope to drive out the Islamic State group.
The move by the Nusra Front comes two weeks after Turkey began carrying out airstrikes against IS targets in Syria. Turkey also agreed to allow US warplanes to use the strategic Incirlik Air Base for operations against IS in Syria. The two countries have agreed on the outlines of a plan to create an IS-free zone along the border.
On Sunday, six US F-16 fighter jets arrived at Incirlik to join the coalition fight against Islamic State militants, the US military says, days after Turkey’s foreign minister said an “extensive” fight against the extremists would soon begin.
The Nusra Front and the IS group are both committed to bringing about Islamic rule in Syria, but are bitterly divided and have battled each other across the country.
— AP
The Times of Israel Community.