TURKEY ESCALATES CAMPAIGN AGAINST U.S.-BACKED KURDISH FIGHTERS
BEIRUT Turkish jets and artillery struck U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters in northern Syria on Thursday, and Turkey’s state-run news agency said as many as 200 militiamen were killed in a major escalation of Turkey’s offensive in northern Syria.
A senior commander with the main Syria Kurdish militia confirmed the Turkish attack on his forces north of Aleppo, but disputed the casualty toll, saying that no more than 10 fighters had been killed so far.
Farther south, in the rebelheld city of Aleppo that has been besieged by pro-government troops, a humanitarian pause announced by Russia took effect on Thursday.
Even as the city of Aleppo enjoyed a relative lull, Turkey escalated its bombing in the Aleppo province.