Heavy fighting has continued to ensue along the Turkey and Syrian border even as turkey pushes forward into Northern Syrian territory.
Turkish forces are stepping up airstrikes and a ground offensive, as their incursion into Kurdish-held areas of northern Syria enters a second day. Turkey’s military said it had seized designated targets. There are reports of heavy fighting in the central border region and seven civilian deaths. Tens of thousands of people are reported to be leaving their homes.
The assault on Kurdish-led forces, key US allies, follows US President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw US troops. Turkey says it wants to create a “safe zone” on the border for many of the Syrian refugees on its territory. On Thursday President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to send the refugees to Europe instead if it characterised the Turkish offensive as an occupation.