A Syrian refugee is pictured at the Al Zaatri refugee camp in the Jordanian city of Mafraq, near the border with Syria.
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Syrian Kurdish fighters have not completely pulled back to the east of the Euphrates river, Deputy Prime Minister Nurettin Canikli said on Wednesday, voicing a frequent complaint about the advance of the US -backed militia in northern Syria.
Despite Washington having not confirmed the alliance, Turkey, the latest big military player in embattled Syria, will be pleased that the U.S. have acknowledged their strategic interest in Syria.
Differences over the YPG have added to the tension between Turkey and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation ally the United States.
Mr Canikli also said 110 Islamic State and Kurdish militia fighters had been killed since the operation began. Damascus denounced the intervention as a breach of its sovereignty. “We said this wouldn’t be an issue from our standpoint”.
The diplomatic sources said that Turkey wants to keep the YPG forces away from the upcoming battles against ISIS, and therefore, Ankara is offering Washington that the Free Syrian Army replace these forces.
Loaded with luggage and domestic items, the residents headed for the frontier and queued for customs inspection at the border gate outside the Turkish town of Karkamis, an AFP photographer said.
“All the people returned”. They say “There is no more war”, this is why I am returning.
“The actions that Turkey is now taking along its border with Syria, with USA support, is having the important effect of isolating Raqqa”, the official said. “Thank you”, said Omar, a refugee from Jarablus.
Further south and west of Jarablus, Turkish forces have continued fighting.
In a statement, Turkey’s military said the militants fired rockets at Turkish tanks during clashes near the border area from where IS was pushed out of on Sunday, immediately killing two and wounding five soldiers. It said the wounded were evacuated by helicopters.
Held by IS since 2013, Jarabulus was on August 24 easily retaken by pro-Ankara fighters supported by Turkish tanks and aviation on the first day of the more than two-week Turkish incursion into Syria.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan dropped hints on Wednesday that the United States and Turkey were prepared to invade Raqqa, Syria – the Islamic State’s de facto capital.
Erdogan said he had agreed with President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in China to do “what is necessary” to drive IS out of Raqa.
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Erdogan said any Turkish role would have to be worked out separately.
