This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-43107013
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Afrin: Syria 'sending fighters to help Kurds against Turkey' | Afrin: Syria 'sending fighters to help Kurds against Turkey' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Syrian pro-government forces will help Syrian Kurds fighting against a Turkish offensive in north-west Syria, Syria's state news agency reports. | Syrian pro-government forces will help Syrian Kurds fighting against a Turkish offensive in north-west Syria, Syria's state news agency reports. |
| It comes after Syrian Kurdish officials said the government in Damascus had agreed to send troops. | It comes after Syrian Kurdish officials said the government in Damascus had agreed to send troops. |
| Turkey regards the Kurdish fighters, just across its border in Afrin, as terrorists. | Turkey regards the Kurdish fighters, just across its border in Afrin, as terrorists. |
| It launched a major offensive against them last month. | It launched a major offensive against them last month. |
| On Monday, Syrian pro-government forces were also reported to be preparing a ground assault on the rebel-controlled area of Eastern Ghouta, on the edge of Damascus. | On Monday, Syrian pro-government forces were also reported to be preparing a ground assault on the rebel-controlled area of Eastern Ghouta, on the edge of Damascus. |
| Syrian activists said dozens of civilians had been killed over the past 24 hours in government attacks, in one of the deadliest days in Eastern Ghouta since Syrian forces stepped up their campaign to retake it earlier this month. | Syrian activists said dozens of civilians had been killed over the past 24 hours in government attacks, in one of the deadliest days in Eastern Ghouta since Syrian forces stepped up their campaign to retake it earlier this month. |
| What has purportedly been agreed? | What has purportedly been agreed? |
| Syrian state news agency, Sana, said "popular forces" would arrive in Afrin "within a few hours to support its people's stand against the Turkish regime's attack on the area and its people". | Syrian state news agency, Sana, said "popular forces" would arrive in Afrin "within a few hours to support its people's stand against the Turkish regime's attack on the area and its people". |
| A senior Kurdish official, Badran Jia Kurd, told Reuters that government soldiers would deploy to some border positions. This has not been confirmed by Syrian authorities. | A senior Kurdish official, Badran Jia Kurd, told Reuters that government soldiers would deploy to some border positions. This has not been confirmed by Syrian authorities. |
| If a deal has been struck, Turkish troops could find themselves confronting not only Kurdish fighters in Afrin, but the Syrian army too, correspondents say. | |
| Why has Turkey entered Afrin? | Why has Turkey entered Afrin? |
| Turkey began its cross-border offensive - which it has dubbed operation Olive Tree - in January. | Turkey began its cross-border offensive - which it has dubbed operation Olive Tree - in January. |
| It is trying to oust the People's Protection Units (YPG), the armed wing of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD). | It is trying to oust the People's Protection Units (YPG), the armed wing of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD). |
| The Kurds have administered semi-autonomous enclaves south of the Turkish border since Syrian forces pulled out in 2012, and the YPG has taken control of other territory after driving out Islamic State (IS) fighters. | The Kurds have administered semi-autonomous enclaves south of the Turkish border since Syrian forces pulled out in 2012, and the YPG has taken control of other territory after driving out Islamic State (IS) fighters. |
| Turkey sees the YPG as an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has fought for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey for three decades. | Turkey sees the YPG as an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has fought for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey for three decades. |
| The YPG denies any direct military or political links with the PKK. | The YPG denies any direct military or political links with the PKK. |
| What is the cost of the Afrin conflict so far? | What is the cost of the Afrin conflict so far? |
| Thousands of civilians have fled since Turkey's offensive began just over a month ago. | Thousands of civilians have fled since Turkey's offensive began just over a month ago. |
| Neither side has released much information about fatalities, making the death toll difficult to gauge. | Neither side has released much information about fatalities, making the death toll difficult to gauge. |
| Kurdish media reported intensified Turkish air and artillery attacks in the region on Monday. | Kurdish media reported intensified Turkish air and artillery attacks in the region on Monday. |
| A child was killed and eight other civilians were injured in shelling of Basute village, according to the Kurdish Hawar News Agency (ANHA). | A child was killed and eight other civilians were injured in shelling of Basute village, according to the Kurdish Hawar News Agency (ANHA). |
| Turkey has said it is targeting only combatants, not civilians. | Turkey has said it is targeting only combatants, not civilians. |
| How would the Syrian government fit in? | How would the Syrian government fit in? |
| Syria has not had a military presence in the Afrin area for nearly six years. | Syria has not had a military presence in the Afrin area for nearly six years. |
| During the course of the Syrian war, pro-government forces have largely avoided direct conflict with the YPG, but they have had sporadic clashes. | During the course of the Syrian war, pro-government forces have largely avoided direct conflict with the YPG, but they have had sporadic clashes. |
| The government of President Bashar al-Assad opposes the YPG's demands for autonomy and has vowed to retake control of all Syrian territory. However the two sides are united in wanting to block Turkey's advances. | The government of President Bashar al-Assad opposes the YPG's demands for autonomy and has vowed to retake control of all Syrian territory. However the two sides are united in wanting to block Turkey's advances. |
| From the Kurdish perspective, Mr Jia Kurd said: "We can co-operate with any side that lends us a helping hand in light of the barbaric crimes and the international silence." | From the Kurdish perspective, Mr Jia Kurd said: "We can co-operate with any side that lends us a helping hand in light of the barbaric crimes and the international silence." |
| However, he also warned that the purported agreement - which he said did not include any political arrangements - could fall through. | However, he also warned that the purported agreement - which he said did not include any political arrangements - could fall through. |
| Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said: "If the [Syrian] regime is entering to oust the PKK, YPG, there is no problem. But if they are entering to protect the YPG, then no-one can stop us and Turkish soldiers." | Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said: "If the [Syrian] regime is entering to oust the PKK, YPG, there is no problem. But if they are entering to protect the YPG, then no-one can stop us and Turkish soldiers." |
| Who is aligned with whom? | Who is aligned with whom? |
| Northern and north-western Syria hosts a complex mix of alliances between different international and regional players. | Northern and north-western Syria hosts a complex mix of alliances between different international and regional players. |
| The situation is further complicated by the YPG militia receiving funding from Turkey's Nato ally the United States, as partners in the fight against IS. | The situation is further complicated by the YPG militia receiving funding from Turkey's Nato ally the United States, as partners in the fight against IS. |
| Turkey has supported rebels fighting Syrian government forces since the civil war began in 2011, but there has been no direct confrontation between the two powers since Syria shot down a Turkish fighter plane in 2012, killing two crew. | Turkey has supported rebels fighting Syrian government forces since the civil war began in 2011, but there has been no direct confrontation between the two powers since Syria shot down a Turkish fighter plane in 2012, killing two crew. |