- After President Donald Trump announced his decision late Sunday night to pull US troops from northeastern Syria, Turkey began an invasion of territory held by Kurdish forces.
- Turkey claims it has struck at least 180 targets in Syria and claims 109 Kurdish casualties, although other observers put the number much lower.
- Kurdish forces appeared to strike back on Thursday, when shells hit a border town in Turkey.
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A Turkish invasion of Kurdish-controlled areas in Syria has appalled the international community and reportedly caused widespread chaos.
Turkey launched both air and ground operations Wednesday, just days after President Donald Trump announced his decision to pull US troops out of the area, leading to widespread condemnation even among his allies.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were an important partner in the US-led fight against ISIS in Syria. Kurdish forces are also guarding as many as 12,000 ISIS fighters in makeshift prisons and thousands of ISIS sympathizers in the al-Hol refugee camp.
Thus far in the fighting:
- The Turkish military reports 109 Kurdish casualties, although rights groups put the number much lower, at about 16 deaths.
- There are about 60,000 displaced people attempting to flee the clashes.
- The Turkish military reports that it has performed more than 180 strikes.
- Four towns near the border have been targeted.
- Turkish and allied forces claim to have captured at least two villages in Kurdish territory.
Read on for more.