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Turkey, Russia Trade Accusations As Syria Tensions Rise

February 12, 2020 5:14 pm

Turkey’s president accused Russia of committing “massacres” in its support of the Syrian government on Wednesday, escalating a war of words as more Turkish reinforcements arrived on the ground.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to strike Syrian regime forces “everywhere” if its soldiers come under renewed attack, but Russia hit back and accused the Turks of failing to “neutralise terrorists” in the northwestern province of Idlib.

Turkey has shored up its positions in recent days in Idlib — the last rebel bastion in Syria — with hundreds of vehicles carrying artillery and soldiers.

And a new convoy of Turkish armoured vehicles

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Over A Dozen Killed In Car Bomb Near Turkey-Syria Border

Over A Dozen Killed In Car Bomb Near Turkey-Syria Border

November 3, 2019 3:03 pm

At least 13 people have been killed in a car bomb explosion in a Syrian town on the border with Turkey, according to the Turkish defence ministry.

The blast on Saturday ripped through a crowded market in Tal Abyad, a town controlled by Turkish-backed opposition fighters.

“Based on first findings, 13 civilians were killed and around 20 others injured” in the explosion, Turkey’s defence ministry said in a statement.

The northeastern town has witnessed some of the heaviest fighting since the Turkish military launched an operation in northeast Syria last month against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is spearheaded

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Turkey Rejects Reports It Sent Anti-Riot Gear To Iraq

Turkey Rejects Reports It Sent Anti-Riot Gear To Iraq

November 2, 2019 1:09 pm

In recent days, several reports published by Arabic-language news outlets quoted unnamed Iraqi government sources who claimed that Ankara had provided Baghdad with two planes of gear, including tear gas.

Yasin Aktay, an adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, denied the reports and told Al Jazeera on Saturday they aimed to “undermine the high reputation Turkey has with Arabic-speaking people as a result of the

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US House Advances Bill Imposing Sanctions On Turkey

US House Advances Bill Imposing Sanctions On Turkey

October 30, 2019 5:46 pm

The United States House of Representatives on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved legislation aimed at imposing sanctions on Turkish military and government officials over Ankara’s military operation against Kurdish forces in northeast Syria.

The 403-16 vote is the latest rebuke of Trump’s decision to withdraw US forces from northeast Syria and leave Kurdish allies without military support as Turkey launched an operation in the area.

“These sanctions are specifically designed to target the Turkish officials and institutions responsible for the bloodshed in Syria without senselessly hurting the Turkish people,” said Representative Eliot Engel, the Democratic chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

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Turkey Defiant On Syria Operation As US Demands Ceasefire

Turkey Defiant On Syria Operation As US Demands Ceasefire

October 16, 2019 8:33 am

Turkey remained defiant against mounting international pressure to curb its military offensive against Kurdish militants in Syria, raising tensions with Washington as Vice President Mike Pence headed for Ankara on Wednesday to demand a ceasefire.

Battles raged in the key Syrian border town of Ras al-Ain as dawn broke on Wednesday, with Kurdish fighters trying to hold off the onslaught by Turkish-backed forces, now in its second week.

The fighting has triggered a flurry of diplomacy among major powers, with US President Donald Trump dispatching Pence along with his top diplomat Mike Pompeo to Turkey amid the greatest crisis …

Turkey-Syria Offensive: Erdogan Rejects US Ceasefire Call

Turkey-Syria Offensive: Erdogan Rejects US Ceasefire Call

October 16, 2019 2:29 am

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has rejected a US call for an immediate ceasefire in northern Syria.

Mr Erdogan’s comments come ahead of a visit to Turkey by the US vice-president and US secretary of state.

Turkey launched an offensive designed to drive away Kurdish troops after their main ally, the US, pulled out.

Russia, which backs Syria, has said it prevent clashes between Turkish and Syrian forces which have now moved into the area after a deal with the Kurds.

Turkey considers elements of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) a terrorist organisation and want to push them away …

UK Suspends Arms Exports To Turkey Over Syria Offensive

UK Suspends Arms Exports To Turkey Over Syria Offensive

October 15, 2019 11:12 am

Britain on Tuesday said it was suspending military exports to Turkey following its incursion into northeastern Syria, as it carries out a review of arms sales to its NATO ally.

“We will keep our defence exports to Turkey under very careful and continual review,” Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a statement to parliament.

“No further export licences to Turkey for items which might be used in military operations in Syria will be granted while we conduct that review.”

Ankara’s assault against Kurdish forces launched last week has prompted a chorus of international condemnation. Raab said it had “seriously undermined …

Turkey-Syria: Syrian Army Heads North After Kurdish Deal

Turkey-Syria: Syrian Army Heads North After Kurdish Deal

October 14, 2019 12:54 pm

Syria’s army has started to reach the north of the country, hours after the government agreed to help Kurdish forces facing Turkey.

State media said government forces, which are backed by Russia, had entered the strategic town of Tal Tamer, 30km (19 miles) south of the Turkish border.

The deal came after the US, the Kurds’ main ally, said it would withdraw its remaining troops from northern Syria.

Turkey’s offensive aims to push Kurdish forces from the border region.

Areas under the control of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) came under heavy bombardment over the weekend, with Turkey making …

Turkey-Syria Offensive: Kurds Reach Deal With Syrian Army

Turkey-Syria Offensive: Kurds Reach Deal With Syrian Army

October 14, 2019 3:26 am

The Kurds in Syria say the Syrian government has agreed to send its army to the northern border to try to halt Turkey’s offensive against them.

Syrian state media earlier reported that government forces had been deployed to the north.

It follows the US decision to pull all its remaining troops from the area over the “untenable” situation there.

The Turkish assault, launched last week, is aimed at forcing Kurdish forces from along the border area.

Areas under the control of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the main US ally in the area, have come under heavy bombardment over …

Turkey Syria War: US Builds Pressure To Halt Incursion

Turkey Syria War: US Builds Pressure To Halt Incursion

October 12, 2019 4:19 am

Pressure is building in the US to stop Turkey from continuing its offensive against Kurdish-held areas in Syria.

Defence Secretary Mark Esper warned of “serious consequences” while Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin held out the prospect of fresh sanctions.

President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw US troops effectively triggered the Turkish incursion.

He has said he would like the US to negotiate a truce between Nato ally Turkey and the Kurds.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, however, says the military operation will continue. Kurdish leaders accuse the US of stabbing them in the back.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon said US forces near …

Heavy fighting Continues As Turkey Pushes Into Syria

Heavy fighting Continues As Turkey Pushes Into Syria

October 10, 2019 9:15 am

Heavy fighting has continued to ensue along the Turkey and Syrian border even as turkey pushes forward into Northern Syrian territory.

Turkish forces are stepping up airstrikes and a ground offensive, as their incursion into Kurdish-held areas of northern Syria enters a second day. Turkey’s military said it had seized designated targets. There are reports of heavy fighting in the central border region and seven civilian deaths. Tens of thousands of people are reported to be leaving their homes.

The assault on Kurdish-led forces, key US allies, follows US President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw US troops. Turkey says it …

Turkey Launches Offensive Air Strikes In Northern Syria

Turkey Launches Offensive Air Strikes In Northern Syria

October 9, 2019 3:21 pm

Turkey warplanes have bombed parts of north-eastern Syria at the start of an offensive which could lead to conflict with Kurdish-led allies of the US.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the operation was to create a “safe zone” cleared of Kurdish militias which will also house Syrian refugees.

Several locations were hit, and at least two civilians died, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said.

It vowed to resist any Turkish advance across the border.

Amid growing humanitarian concerns, the SDF asked the US-led coalition against the jihadist group Islamic State (IS) to establish a no-fly zone in the …

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𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬, 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐫𝐤, is a nonpartisan online news portal founded on the truth to provide you with weekly, insightful articles written with precision and current updates on current events from Africa in particular and the rest of the world in general. All of our reports undergo extensive fact-checking to ensure their veracity, and we adhere strictly to the facts, no matter whose ox is gored.

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