Syrian Kurdish civilians board a truck as they flee reported shelling in the northeastern governorate of Hasakah, toward the city of Qameshli, on August 18, 2016.
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Two Syrian Su-24 warplanes flying near a part of northeastern Syria where USA special forces are working on the ground with Kurdish allies were approached and “encouraged” to leave by a pair of US fighter jets on Friday, according to NBC News.
Yesterday Hasaka’s remaining government officials were confined to a few buildings in the city centre while the rest of the city was under Kurdish control, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights Director Rami Abdulrahman said.
The Kurdish YPG militia – which already holds swathes of northeastern Syria – is said to have taken near full control of Hasaka city in fighting that erupted last week.
Karns said the jets providing combat air patrols include F-15Es, F-16s and F-18s.
He added that the deal was brokered “under the auspices of Russian military officials”. “The regime’s militias are now surrounded by our forces inside the Security Complex in the city”. -Russian talks about establishing a separate, nation-wide cessation of hostilities in Syria were making progress.
A Pentagon spokesman says the USA has told Syria that its air force must not fly in areas where American military advisers are working with Kurdish and Arab forces fighting the Islamic State group. Turkey is backing an expected operation by Syrian Arab rebel groups to seize the Islamic State-held Jarablus at the border, an assault that would prevent that town also falling to groups allied to the YPG.
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus told broadcaster NTV that northern Syria should not become the domain of one group alone and that a “secure zone”, an internationally policed buffer area Turkey has proposed in vain in the past, should be reconsidered.
The YPG is at the heart of a US-led campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group in Syria.
Instead of risking a US-backed push into Jarabulus, Turkey seems to be hoping this faction, dominated by Ahrar al-Sham, will get there first, precluding any more Kurdish advances across the Euphrates River into key border areas.
“The Turkish artillery has not stopped. this is to create the right atmosphere to start the battle of liberating Jarablus”, said the rebel, who declined to be identified.
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The additional U.S. combat air patrols will monitor the situation and provide assistance to coalition forces if needed, but are not enforcing any kind of no-fly zone, Davis said. The Syrian government strikes, he said, “did not directly impact our forces”.
