Turkey vows to keep attacking US-backed Syrian Kurd forces

Turkish-backed Syrian rebels seized several villages from Islamic State on Saturday near Turkey’s border with Syria, in further advances against the jihadist group, the insurgents and monitors said.

Anadolu says “with this new phase of the (Euphrates Shield) operation, the Azaz-Jarablus line is expected to be cleared of terror elements”.

Rebels and Turkish forces are now advancing in two directions, to the east from al-Rai and to the west from Jarablus, to seal the border.

In a visit to Turkey last month, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden called for the Kurdish militias to retreat east of the river, saying they must do so to ensure U.S. support.

By supporting the rebels, mainly Arabs and Turkmen fighting under the loose banner of the Free Syrian Army, Turkey is hoping to push out Islamic State militants and check the advance of US -backed Syrian Kurdish fighters.

Turkey wants the United States to put more pressure on Syrian Kurdish fighters to return to the east of the Euphrates River, the deputy prime minister said on Friday, as Ankara seeks to limit the advance of the USA -backed rebels in northern Syria.

Meanwhile, with IS apparently on the back foot, Russia’s military said Wednesday one of its air strikes had killed propaganda chief Adnani. The YPG says it has done so and USA officials agree that is mostly the case. Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or the PKK, which Turkey and its allies consider a terrorist organization.

However, the US-led anti-IS coalition has been backing the YPG with training and equipment.

Turkey is concerned that Syrian Kurdish fighters could embolden Kurdish militants waging an insurgency on its soil.

Iran, a key backer of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, urged Turkey to quickly wrap up its campaign, calling it a violation of Syrian sovereignty.

Three other soldiers were injured in anti-tank fire in an IS-held area west of Jarabulus, Turkish media reported.

But Kalin, the Turkish presidential spokesman, said such a deal was “out of the question”, insisting the Kurdish Syrian militiamen will remain a target for Turkey until they move east of the Euphrates.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry says the two discussed current developments in Syria, the delivery of humanitarian aid and efforts to restart peace talks.

The group also claimed to have carried out a suicide auto bombing against Turkish-backed rebels in the same area and said it had killed “dozens” of Turkish soldiers and Turkish-backed rebels.