One Turkish soldier killed in Syria offensive

A military council linked to the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said Saturday that Turkish air and artillery attacks on the village of Amarna had caused civilian casualties and called it “a risky escalation that threatens the fate of the region”.

The Jarablus Military Council said the village of al-Amarna, which lies a few km south of Jarablus, was hit.

“Our concern has been the fact that the YPG has a proven track record of forcibly displacing non-Kurds”, a senior Turkish official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity as per protocol.

As Turkey stepped up its biggest operation in Syria since the start of the war, the United States and Russian Federation announced progress in talks on agreeing a new ceasefire.

“We want to prevent any enemy advances, and by enemies we mean ISIS and the YPG”, said Abu Ibrahim, another Free Syrian Army commander, referring to the Kurds.

Faylaq al-Sham, another Islamist rebel group in the Turkish alliance, said it captured two SDF fighters, whose fate remains unknown, during clashes in the village of Yusuf Bek.

Al-Amarneh is also on the border, eight kilometres (five miles) south of Jarabulus.

The fighting indicates Turkey is entering into a new and more unsafe phase in Syria four days into operation “Euphrates Shield”.

Despite consistent USA calls to retreat, PYD units have been moving to the east of the Euphrates river, and the group has continued its offenses amid the conflict between Turkish-backed moderate opposition forces and Daesh terrorists.

“Isis should be completely cleansed, this is an absolute must”. There are some 300 US special operations troops there working with the YPG and other opponents of Assad fighting Islamic State.

Once Syria’s economic powerhouse, Aleppo city has been ravaged by the conflict that began with anti-government protests in March 2011.

Earlier, Turkey destroyed an arsenal and command post belonging to “terror groups” in strikes on Syria Saturday, the Anadolu news agency said, amid accusations Turkish jets had bombed Kurdish militia positions.

The US has supported the SDF in its fight against IS in northern Syria and has seen the group as crucial in the eventual push to drive IS out of their “capital” Raqqa.

It is Turkey’s first major military operation since a failed coup last month that caused thousands of members of its armed forces to be discharged amid global concern over wide-ranging purges.

Syria activists say at least 15 civilians have been killed when suspected government helicopters dropped barrel bombs on a wake for children killed in earlier airstrikes in rebel-held Aleppo. It reported civilian casualties and called the strike “a risky escalation”.

However, the leader of one Turkey-backed rebel group gave a rival account.

The Observatory said dozens more were injured in the two strikes and the death toll was expected to rise.

Russia, alongside Iran and China, is supporting President Assad and follows the Syrian government’s designation of all opposition groups as “terrorists”.

An Turkish official said on Wednesday that Ankara would “continue operations until we are convinced that imminent threats against the country’s national security have been neutralised”, according to AFP.

“Today I can say that we achieved clarity on the path forward” for a revamped cessation of hostilities, Kerry said.