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SDF Syrian Democratic Forces
A convoy of US military vehicles drives through the Syrian northeastern town of Qahtaniyah on the border with Turkey on October 31, 2019 (Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP)
October 31, 2019, 3:58 pm
US conducts first northeast Syria border patrol since pullback
5 armored vehicles, accompanied by Kurdish fighters, patrol area where regime forces were expected to deploy as part of a deal with Turkey
By AFP
Screen capture from video allegedly showing Islamic State spokesman spokesman Abu Hassan al-Muhajir. (YouTube)
October 29, 2019, 6:05 pm
Trump says IS leader Baghdadi’s top replacement also killed
US president may have been referring to the Sunday killing by Kurdish and US forces of jihadist leader’s spokesman and right-hand man, Abu Hassan al-Muhajir
By AFP
Screen capture from video allegedly showing Islamic State spokesman spokesman Abu Hassan al-Muhajir. (YouTube)
October 27, 2019, 9:12 pm
Syrian Kurdish forces say Islamic State spokesman killed in fresh raid
Kurd commander announces Abu Hassan al-Muhajir slain in joint coordinated operation with US military
By AFP and TOI staff
A picture taken on October 27, 2019 shows a burnt vehicle near the site where helicopter gunfire reportedly killed nine people near the northwestern Syrian village of Barisha in the province of Idlib near the border with Turkey, where 'groups linked to the Islamic State group' were present, according to a Britain-based war monitor with sources inside Syria (Omar HAJ KADOUR / AFP)
October 27, 2019, 12:18 pm
Kurdish commander: ‘Historic’ Baghdadi op was result of joint intel work with US
Turkey also says it coordinated with American military ahead of Syria operation, which is said to have killed leader of Islamic State terror group
By Agencies and TOI staff
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin following their talks in the Black sea resort of Sochi on October 22, 2019. (Sergei Chirikov/Pool/AFP)
October 26, 2019, 7:16 pm
Erdogan: Turkey will ‘clear terrorists’ from Syria border if Sochi deal fails
Warning comes after Turkish leader reached agreement with Putin for removal of Syrian Kurdish fighters in area; also repeats threat to send refugees to Europe
By AFP
File: In this April 4, 2018 photo, a convoy of oil trucks passes a Kurdish police checkpoint as they move fuel produced in Kurdish-held areas in Syris (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
October 26, 2019, 6:45 am
Trump’s latest Syria strategy of protecting oil called into question
Experts doubtful whether new plans to secure oil fields amid troop withdrawal are realistic, or even legal
By Sylvie LANTEAUME
Turkish soldiers, right, and Turkey-backed opposition fighters, left, stand on a building next to their flags the town of Ras al Ayn in northeastern Syria, October 23, 2019. (Ugur Can/DHA via AP)
October 25, 2019, 6:30 am
Syria says Turkish-led forces attacked its troops, killing some
Turkey and Kurdish-led SDF also fighting despite truce; clashes underscore risk of spiraling violence as multiple armies jostle for position in volatile border region
By Bassem Mroue
Syrian families fleeing the battle zone between Turkey-led forces and Kurdish fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in and around the northern flashpoint town of Ras al-Ain on the border with Turkey, October 15, 2019. (Delil SOULEIMAN/AFP)
October 20, 2019, 10:16 pm
Syrian Kurdish military official calls on Israel to take action against Turkey
Invoking past persecution of Jews, member of Syrian Democratic Forces expresses confidence the Jewish people will not neglect Syrian Kurds’ plight
By Adam Rasgon
A convoy of ambulances evacuating fighters and injured members of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), as a well as wounded civilians, leaves the northeastern Syrian border town of Ras al-Ain on October 20, 2019. (Nazeer Al-Khatib/AFP)
October 20, 2019, 7:36 pm
Kurdish fighters withdraw from besieged Syria town
Pullout from Ras al-Ain comes as US troops leave their largest base in north of country; Trump tweets ceasefire ‘holding up very nicely’
By Nazeer al-Khatib and Delil Souleiman
US military vehicles drive on a street in the town of Tal Tamr on October 20, 2019, after pulling out of their base. (Photo by Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP)
October 20, 2019, 2:44 pm
US forces withdraw from key base in northern Syria
Two days before ceasefire with Turkey expires, troops leave Sarrin base on edge of proposed ‘safe zone’
By AFP
In this photo taken from the Turkish side of the border between Turkey and Syria, in Ceylanpinar, Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey, smoke billows from a fire in Ras al-Ayn, Syria, October 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
October 20, 2019, 2:42 am
Erdogan wants Syrian forces to leave border areas, aide says
Turkey says it wants to resettle two million refugees in area after it is evacuated by the Kurds
By Karl Ritter and Sarah El Deeb
A man who was injured during the ongoing Turkish offensive against Kurdish-controlled areas of northeastern Syria lies at a hospital in Tal Tamr, near the Syrian Kurdish town of Ras al-Ain, October 18, 2019. (Delil Souleiman/AFP)
October 18, 2019, 3:55 pm
Deadly Turkish airstrikes shatter deal to pause Syria offensive
Kurdish forces accuse Turkey of attacking its fighters and civilians despite US-brokered agreement with Erdogan for halt in operation to allow Kurds to withdraw
By Delil Souleiman
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C-L) and US Vice President Mike Pence (C-R), joined by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (4R), Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay (4L), Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (3L) and senior aides, meet at the presidential complex in Ankara, Turkey, on October 17, 2019. (Shaun TANDON / POOL / AFP)
October 17, 2019, 10:06 pm
Turkey and Kurds agree to Syria truce; Trump: ‘A great day for civilization’
Deal, which will see US remove sanctions from Ankara, appears to give Erdogan all he sought to achieve with offensive
By Agencies and TOI staff
In this file photo taken on October 6, 2019, a US soldier sits atop an armored vehicle during a demonstration by Syrian Kurds against Turkish threats next to a base for the US-led international coalition on the outskirts of Ras al-Ain town in Syria's Hasakeh province near the Turkish border (AFP)
October 16, 2019, 4:29 am
US says it wants to keep helping Kurds in fight against Islamic State
Pentagon official: ‘There’ll be ongoing conversations’ about how to support Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), despite US withdrawing troops from northern Syria
By AFP
Syrian families fleeing the battle zone between Turkey-led forces and Kurdish fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in and around the northern flashpoint town of Ras al-Ain on the border with Turkey, arrive along with Syrian Arab and Kurdish civilians in the city of Tal Tamr on the outskirts of Hasakeh on October 15, 2019. (Photo by Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP)
October 15, 2019, 2:52 pm
Syrian Kurds defend key border town as Turkey continues onslaught
Despite much of border being seized by Ankara in week-long operation, SDF fighters still putting up a fight in Ras al-Ain as Erdogan ignores US pressure
By Delil Souleiman and Shaun Tandon
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