Turkish soldier dies in Syria in new escalation of conflict

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Source: The Independent

Backed by Turkish tanks and reports of air strikes, Turkey-allied Syrian rebels clashed with Kurdish-led forces in north-eastern Syria in a new escalation that further complicates the already protracted Syrian conflict.

Turkey's military did not specify what the air strikes hit, saying only that "terror groups" were targeted south of the village of Jarablus, where the clashes later ensued.

A Kurdish-affiliated group said their forces were the target and called the attack an "unprecedented and dangerous escalation". If confirmed, it would be the first Turkish air strikes against Kurdish allied forces on Syrian soil.

Late on Saturday night, Turkey's official news agency reported that one Turkish soldier had been killed and three wounded by what it said was a Kurdish rocket attack in Jarablus, near where the fighting has raged. It is the first reported Turkish fatality in Syria.


Read more: http://www.independent.ie/world-news/turkish-soldier-dies-in-syria-in-new-escalation-of-conflict-35000841.html

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VIDEO: First footage claiming to show a Turkish tank hit by SDF forces inside Syria
https://twitter.com/Conflicts/status/769682155618312192

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1. Syrian rebels advance on Kurds as Turkish strikes kill 35

Syrian rebels advance on Kurds as Turkish strikes kill 35

BEIRUT (AP) — Turkey-backed Syrian rebels seized a number of villages and towns from Kurdish-led forces in northern Syria on Sunday amid Turkish airstrikes and shelling that killed at least 35 people, mostly civilians, according to rebels and a monitoring group.

Turkey sent tanks across the border to help Syrian rebels drive the Islamic State group out of the frontier town of Jarablus last week in a dramatic escalation of its involvement in the Syrian civil war.

The operation, labeled Euphrates Shield, is also aimed at pushing back U.S.-allied Kurdish forces. The fighting pits a NATO ally against a U.S.-backed proxy that is the most effective ground forces battling IS in Syria.

Turkish officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/8db6ea5dabd343a5bde0ea0f8eb783ea/turkish-bombing-kills-least-20-northern-syria?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=AP

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2. in other news

84 yo grandmother in michigan gunned down by the BEST POLICE

spoiler - she was wearing revealing clothing

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3. Fighting Escalates on Turkey-Syria Border, Endangering U.S. Forces

Fighting Escalates on Turkey-Syria Border, Endangering U.S. Forces

ISTANBUL—The death of a Turkish soldier in the newest battlefront of the Syrian war is stoking tensions between two U.S. allies, Turkey’s military and Syrian Kurdish rebels, heightening the risk to U.S. forces in the area and their common fight against Islamic State.

Syrian monitoring groups said that at least 70 people were killed over the weekend, mostly civilians, in the Turkish operations. The Turkish military said they killed at least 25 “terrorists,” and didn’t comment on the reported civilian deaths, except to say that commanders are taking all necessary measures to protect noncombatants. It wasn’t possible to independently verify the Syrian casualty figures or the identities of those killed.

Turkey’s military struck deeper into Syria with airstrikes and artillery strikes on Sunday after the Turkish soldier died and three others were wounded on Saturday when their tank unit came under attack by Kurdish rebels, known as the YPG.

There was no comment from U.S. officials about the escalation of fighting between the two sides—both of which are U.S. allies. It was unclear what role, if any, the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State, of which Turkey is a member, had in the air campaign over the weekend.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/fighting-escalates-on-turkey-syria-border-endangering-u-s-forces-1472375014

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4. Syria war: Rival claims as Turkish strikes kill at least 25

Syria war: Rival claims as Turkish strikes kill at least 25

Tens of people have been killed in continuing Turkish strikes on Kurdish-held areas in Syria near the border city of Jarablus.

A monitoring group said at least 35 civilians and four militants had been killed in the Turkish attacks.

The Turkish military said 25 people, all Kurdish militants, had been killed.

The strikes came on the fifth day of Turkey's military operation to target so-called Islamic State (IS) militants and Kurdish militia inside Syria.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-37208941

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5. DOD: We want to make clear that we find these clashes unacceptable and a source of deep concern.

DOD: We want to make clear that we find these clashes -- in areas where #ISIL is not located -- unacceptable and a source of deep concern.
https://twitter.com/brett_mcgurk/status/770185546756919296

Account of Brett McGurk, Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL.

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6. Turkey to fight ISIL, Syrian Kurdish militia with 'same determination': Erdoğan

Turkey to fight ISIL, Syrian Kurdish militia with 'same determination': Erdoğan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan vowed on Aug. 28 to devote equal energy to combatting Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants and Syrian Kurdish fighters, on the fifth day of a major offensive that has left dozens dead.

"We will make any kind of contribution to the work to clear Daesh (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) from Syria," Erdoğan told a rally in the southern city of Gaziantep, near the Syrian border.

"For the issue of the PYD (Democratic Union Party) terror group in Syria, we have just the same determination," he added, referring to the main pro-Kurdish party in northern Syria and its People's Protection Units (YPG) militia.

On Aug. 28, Turkish forces ramped up their offensive, with Turkish warplanes and artillery pounding areas held by pro-Kurdish forces close to a town liberated from ISIL this week.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-to-fight-isil-syrian-kurdish-militia-with-same-determination-erdogan-.aspx?pageID=238&nid=103325&NewsCatID=338