Turkey starts preparations for further operations in northern Syria: Erdogan
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ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey has started preparations to clear northern Syria’s Ayn al-Arab, Ras al-Ain and Tel Abyad regions from militants up to the Iraqi border, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday, adding that it would also clear militants from Iraq.
Erdogan said Turkey has no intention of harming soldiers of allied nations positioned in the region, but that it could not allow militants to roam free.
United States troops are positioned alongside Kurdish YPG militants in Syria’s Manbij. French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday it had assured the YPG of its support to stabilize northern Syria.
France could adapt its Syria operations in Islamic State fight: source
PARIS (Reuters) - France could adapt its military operation as part of the U.S.-led coalition in Syria if it deems it useful to achieve its objectives in the fight against Islamic State, a French presidential source said on Friday.
“If the president felt that, in order to achieve our goals against Islamic State, we needed a moment to adapt our military intervention, then we should do it, but it would be within the existing framework,” the source said.
Turkey's Erdogan says France 'completely wrong' on Syria
ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday France had taken the wrong approach toward Syria, after French President Emmanuel Macron promised a Kurdish-dominated force that Paris would help stabilize the northeast of the country.
“We are deeply saddened by the completely wrong approach shown by France, which we hope is a result of misperceptions,” Erdogan said.
Two coalition personnel killed by explosive device in Syria
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Two personnel with the U.S.-led coalition battling Islamic State were killed and five were wounded by an improvised explosive device in Syria, the coalition said on Friday.
The casualties appeared to be the first to be killed or wounded in an attack this year on the coalition.
