Turks deal blow to US strategy in Syria

SYRIA: Turkish warplanes and artillery have bombed and killed dozens of fighters from United States-aligned Kurdish forces in northern Syria, dealing a fresh blow to US and Nato strategy.

A Free Syrian Army (FSA) unit that is backed by Turkey, a Nato member, clashed with the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) northeast of Aleppo, even though both are fighting Isis.

The rebels called in Turkish support. In a fierce barrage, between 160 and 200 members of the Kurdish militia were killed, according to Turkish officials.

The Kurds said that the number was smaller - between 10 and 20 but issued a statement condemning the attack and what they said were similar assaults on civilian areas.

‘‘The recent Turkish attack appears to be a reaction to the liberation of villages from Daesh [Isis] terrorists,’’ it said. ‘‘It is conclusive evidence that the Turkish state is the defender of the terrorist organisation.’’

The FSA claimed it had come under attack from the Kurds after advancing from Dabiq, a key town it liberated from Isis this week.

Moro Kafranasah, an FSA commander, said his men had come under fire from Kurdish units which he said had support from Russian fighter jets.

‘‘Of course, we and the Turkish artillery retaliated against these attacks,’’ he said.

At stake in the fighting between the Arab-dominated FSA and the Kurdish-dominated SDF is control over the region of northern Syria along the Turkish border.

With US backing, the Kurds were able to push back Isis from towns such as Kobane, establishing what is now an autonomous government along much of the border region. - The Times