Civilians killed in Turkish air strikes

Dozens of civilians were killed in Turkish air strikes on Kurdish-held areas of Syria Sunday, as the West’s two main allies in the conflict inched closer to full-blown war.

Some 35 people died in strikes on Jeb el-Kussa and Al-Amarneh, villages close to the Turkish border held by pro-Kurdish forces. Turkey claimed they were “terrorists” from outlawed militias.

Ankara sent tanks across the border last week to help Syrian rebels drive ISIL out of the frontier town of Jarabulus, but Turkish officials have stated that their goal is as much about ensuring Kurdish forces do not expand their territory along Turkey’s frontier as it is about driving away jihadists.

Operation Euphrates Shield would split Kurdish territory and prevent Syria’s Kurds from creating a federal state — something Turkey has long opposed because of fears it could embolden Kurdish separatist sentiments at home.