Stakes rise in Turkey's Afrin assault as pro-Assad militia arrive

By Ellen Francis and Ece Toksabay

BEIRUT/ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey warned on Wednesday that pro-Damascus forces would face "serious consequences" for entering Syria's Afrin region to help Kurdish fighters repel a Turkish offensive.

Their arrival raises the specter of wider escalation on Syria's northern battlefront, which includes the Syrian army, allied Iran-linked militias, Kurdish forces, rebels, Turkish troops, and Russian and American forces.

The Syrian Kurdish YPG militia said Turkish planes bombed a town in Afrin and fighting raged on the ground on Wednesday. Turkey launched its assault last month to drive out the YPG, which it deems a menace along its border.


Source : Yahoo News