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| Turkish-backed rebels in Syria make major gains against Islamic State | Turkish-backed rebels in Syria make major gains against Islamic State |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| BEIRUT — Turkish-backed rebels in northern Syria have been driving Islamic State militants out of vast areas along the frontier with neighboring Turkey, seizing a key border town from the extremist group in the latest gains. | BEIRUT — Turkish-backed rebels in northern Syria have been driving Islamic State militants out of vast areas along the frontier with neighboring Turkey, seizing a key border town from the extremist group in the latest gains. |
| The capture of al-Rai, about 40 miles northeast of Aleppo, by groups affiliated with the umbrella Free Syrian Army deprives the Islamic State of one of its last border crossings from Turkey into Syria, which had been a key conduit for the group to funnel fighters and weapons. | |
| The takeover — confirmed by the rebel groups and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group — represents a major setback for the Islamic State, which depends heavily on smuggling pathways through Turkey. | The takeover — confirmed by the rebel groups and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group — represents a major setback for the Islamic State, which depends heavily on smuggling pathways through Turkey. |
| At the same time, the militant group’s territory in Syria and Iraq has been shrinking substantially because of advances by U.S.-backed forces and pro-government fighters in Syria. Among the important gains was the recapture last week of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria. | At the same time, the militant group’s territory in Syria and Iraq has been shrinking substantially because of advances by U.S.-backed forces and pro-government fighters in Syria. Among the important gains was the recapture last week of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria. |
| [Islamic State knocked back in Syria and Iraq] | [Islamic State knocked back in Syria and Iraq] |
| The rebel advances also appear to be a success for Turkish policy in Syria. | The rebel advances also appear to be a success for Turkish policy in Syria. |
| Turkey, a fierce opponent of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has provided the rebels with weapons and logistics as they have made their way eastward from Azaz, another border town about 30 miles north of Aleppo. The rebel fighters have reclaimed more than a dozen villages in the area. | Turkey, a fierce opponent of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has provided the rebels with weapons and logistics as they have made their way eastward from Azaz, another border town about 30 miles north of Aleppo. The rebel fighters have reclaimed more than a dozen villages in the area. |
| Turkey also seeks to use the rebels to blunt a separate push by Kurdish militants in Syria, who have U.S. support. Turkey, however, claims the Kurds have strong links with separatists Kurds in Turkey and has called for Washington to cut ties with the Syrian Kurds. | Turkey also seeks to use the rebels to blunt a separate push by Kurdish militants in Syria, who have U.S. support. Turkey, however, claims the Kurds have strong links with separatists Kurds in Turkey and has called for Washington to cut ties with the Syrian Kurds. |
| With rebels in control of al-Rai’s border crossing, they have carved out more breathing room in Syria’s northwest and appear poised to use the crossing to bring reinforcements to opposition-held areas in nearby Aleppo. | With rebels in control of al-Rai’s border crossing, they have carved out more breathing room in Syria’s northwest and appear poised to use the crossing to bring reinforcements to opposition-held areas in nearby Aleppo. |
| In February, a Syrian government assault, backed by Russian airstrikes and militiamen from Iran and Lebanon, dealt heavy blows to rebel fighters in the countryside north of Aleppo. | In February, a Syrian government assault, backed by Russian airstrikes and militiamen from Iran and Lebanon, dealt heavy blows to rebel fighters in the countryside north of Aleppo. |
| A partial cease-fire backed by Russia and the United States has since led to substantial reduction in hostilities, despite violations alleged by both sides. The agreement does not stop attacks against the Islamic State. | A partial cease-fire backed by Russia and the United States has since led to substantial reduction in hostilities, despite violations alleged by both sides. The agreement does not stop attacks against the Islamic State. |
| “There is conversation with the Turkish military and government to talk about opportunities to intensify support to those groups and to push Daesh east from the current line,” said the U.S. ambassador to Turkey, John Bass the Reuters news agency reported. Daesh is an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State. | |