Turkish forces push deeper into Syria

Akcakale (Turkey) - US President Donald Trump cleared the way for Turkey's air and ground assault after he pulled American troops from their positions near the border.

Turkish forces pushed deeper into northeastern Syria on Friday, the third day of Ankara's offensive against US-allied Syrian Kurdish fighters, as casualties mounted, international criticism of the campaign intensified and thousands of civilians fled the violence.
Turkey said it captured more Kurdish-held villages in the border region, while a camp for displaced residents about 12km from the frontier was evacuated after artillery shells landed nearby amid intense clashes. Aid agencies have warned of a humanitarian crisis, with nearly a half-million people at risk near the border.
US President Donald Trump cleared the way for Turkey's air and ground assault after he pulled American troops from their positions near the border, drawing swift bipartisan criticism that he was endangering regional stability and abandoning Syrian Kurdish forces that brought down the Daesh group in Syria.
Trump has warned Turkey to act with moderation and safeguard civilians, and the Pentagon said the operation is a threat to progress in combating Daesh militants and a potential threat to US troops in Syria. Plumes of black smoke billowed on Friday from the Syrian border town of Tal Abyad as Turkey continued bombarding the area.

• MENA