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Syria
A Turkish-backed Syrian fighter fires during clashes in the border town of Ras al-Ain, October 13, 2019. Photo: Nazeer al-Khatib / AFP
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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Following “fierce clashes” on Sunday morning, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said its fighters had retaken most of Ras al-Ain, known to Kurds as Sari Kani, from Turkish-backed militias, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The stiff resistance put up by the SDF led to “the withdrawal of the factions from the industrial area, and the clashes are concentrated now in the area of Ras al-Ain [border] crossing as well as the area of Tal Halab”, the observatory reports.
“Amid an exchange of heavy and violent shelling, the SOHR documented the killing of more than 17 members of the pro-Turkey factions during the SDF’s counter attack in Ras Al-Ain.”
“Also four members of the SDF were killed in the same clashes, in the same context,” it added.
The Turkish Army and its Syrian proxies launched Operation Peace Spring against the SDF on Wednesday. Ankara considers the Kurdish-led force a terrorist organization and wants to push the Kurds away from the border region to establish a so-called ‘safe zone’.
The Kurdish administration accuses Turkey of trying to ethnically cleanse their towns and villages, which are also home to Arab and Assyrian communities.
Almost 200,000 residents have fled the fighting and artillery barrages. More than 40 civilians and around 76 SDF fighters have been killed, the observatory says.
SDF spokesperson Redur Khalil on Saturday put the number of SDF fighters killed at 45.
Turkey has continued to shell border towns including Qamishli, Kobane, and Gire Spi.
According to the observatory, US-led coalition forces have been redeployed in Qamishli city and Kobane.
Related: SDF demands no-fly zone for fair war with Turkey
The SDF on Saturday urged the international community to impose a no-fly zone over northeast Syria to give them a fighting chance against the onslaught of the much bigger, better equipped forces of Turkey.
“All we want from the international community is a no-fly zone so we can have a fair war with Turkey,” Khalil said in a televised statement.
ISIS escapees
Northeast Syria’s ruling Movement for a Democratic Society (TEV-DEM) said Sunday that a number of Islamic State (ISIS) militants’ family members have been able to flee the Ain Issa Camp amid the chaos.
“Due to the barbaric Turkish attacks and its militia groups, a number of Daesh family members have managed to flee the Ain Issa Camp where thousands of the militants’ families are held,” TEV-DEM said, using the Arabic acronym for ISIS.
Related: US forces ‘left us here to die’: Kobane residents after reported Turkish shelling of American base
Further escapes “will help the resurrection of Daesh”, it warned.
The TEV-DEM called on the anti-ISIS coalition, the Arab League, the European Union, and human rights organizations to help stabilize the situation.
The stiff resistance put up by the SDF led to “the withdrawal of the factions from the industrial area, and the clashes are concentrated now in the area of Ras al-Ain [border] crossing as well as the area of Tal Halab”, the observatory reports.
“Amid an exchange of heavy and violent shelling, the SOHR documented the killing of more than 17 members of the pro-Turkey factions during the SDF’s counter attack in Ras Al-Ain.”
“Also four members of the SDF were killed in the same clashes, in the same context,” it added.
The Turkish Army and its Syrian proxies launched Operation Peace Spring against the SDF on Wednesday. Ankara considers the Kurdish-led force a terrorist organization and wants to push the Kurds away from the border region to establish a so-called ‘safe zone’.
The Kurdish administration accuses Turkey of trying to ethnically cleanse their towns and villages, which are also home to Arab and Assyrian communities.
Almost 200,000 residents have fled the fighting and artillery barrages. More than 40 civilians and around 76 SDF fighters have been killed, the observatory says.
SDF spokesperson Redur Khalil on Saturday put the number of SDF fighters killed at 45.
Turkey has continued to shell border towns including Qamishli, Kobane, and Gire Spi.
According to the observatory, US-led coalition forces have been redeployed in Qamishli city and Kobane.
Related: SDF demands no-fly zone for fair war with Turkey
The SDF on Saturday urged the international community to impose a no-fly zone over northeast Syria to give them a fighting chance against the onslaught of the much bigger, better equipped forces of Turkey.
“All we want from the international community is a no-fly zone so we can have a fair war with Turkey,” Khalil said in a televised statement.
ISIS escapees
Northeast Syria’s ruling Movement for a Democratic Society (TEV-DEM) said Sunday that a number of Islamic State (ISIS) militants’ family members have been able to flee the Ain Issa Camp amid the chaos.
“Due to the barbaric Turkish attacks and its militia groups, a number of Daesh family members have managed to flee the Ain Issa Camp where thousands of the militants’ families are held,” TEV-DEM said, using the Arabic acronym for ISIS.
Related: US forces ‘left us here to die’: Kobane residents after reported Turkish shelling of American base
Further escapes “will help the resurrection of Daesh”, it warned.
The TEV-DEM called on the anti-ISIS coalition, the Arab League, the European Union, and human rights organizations to help stabilize the situation.
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