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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/11/kurdish-civilians-flee-turkish-forces-sustain-bombardment-syria
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| Kurdish civilians flee as Turkish forces bomb Syria for third day | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Kurdish civilians were fleeing from key towns in north-eastern Syria as Turkish forces continued to bombard targets for a third consecutive day and Donald Trump raised the possibility of imposing sanctions on Ankara. | Kurdish civilians were fleeing from key towns in north-eastern Syria as Turkish forces continued to bombard targets for a third consecutive day and Donald Trump raised the possibility of imposing sanctions on Ankara. |
| There were reports on Friday of airstrikes and shelling in Ras al-Ayn and Tel Abyad, the Kurdish-held towns that have borne the brunt of the fighting, as Turkish ground troops and their allies sought to close in on both. | There were reports on Friday of airstrikes and shelling in Ras al-Ayn and Tel Abyad, the Kurdish-held towns that have borne the brunt of the fighting, as Turkish ground troops and their allies sought to close in on both. |
| What is the situation in north-eastern Syria? | What is the situation in north-eastern Syria? |
| Thousands of civilians have fled from both towns as well as surrounding villages, and a camp of at least 4,000 displaced Syrians near Ras al-Ayn had been evacuated by Friday afternoon after Turkish artillery landed nearby, Kurdish administrators said. | Thousands of civilians have fled from both towns as well as surrounding villages, and a camp of at least 4,000 displaced Syrians near Ras al-Ayn had been evacuated by Friday afternoon after Turkish artillery landed nearby, Kurdish administrators said. |
| Kurdish activists reported more civilian deaths near the towns of Qamishli and Derik, though their claims could not be independently verified. The Turkish defence ministry has denied conducting operations in either area. | Kurdish activists reported more civilian deaths near the towns of Qamishli and Derik, though their claims could not be independently verified. The Turkish defence ministry has denied conducting operations in either area. |
| Tel Abyad’s hospital was closed after most of its staff left, Doctors Without Borders said on Friday. “Our staff in Tel Abyad witnessed the town, that was once filled with life, become deserted,” said Robert Onus, the group’s emergency manager for Syria. | Tel Abyad’s hospital was closed after most of its staff left, Doctors Without Borders said on Friday. “Our staff in Tel Abyad witnessed the town, that was once filled with life, become deserted,” said Robert Onus, the group’s emergency manager for Syria. |
| The US defence secretary, Mark Esper, told his Turkish counterpart on Friday to halt the offensive or risk “serious consequences for Turkey”, but it is unclear what effect that would have on a government in Ankara that believes it has the backing of the US president. | |
| “While the Secretary reaffirmed [that] we value our strategic bilateral relationship, this incursion risks serious consequences for Turkey,” Esper told Turkey’s defence minister, Hulusi Akar, in a phone call. Esper said Turkey’s actions posed a threat to US personnel stationed in Syria. | |
| “As part of the call, Secretary Esper strongly encouraged Turkey to discontinue actions in north-eastern Syria in order to increase the possibility that the United States, Turkey and our partners could find a common way to de-escalate the situation before it becomes irreparable,” a Pentagon account of the call said. | |
| About 64,000 people have fled Syria since the campaign began, according to the International Rescue Committee aid group. The Kurdish Red Crescent said on Thursday night that 11 civilians had been killed in the fighting, including an 11-year-old boy in Qamishli. | About 64,000 people have fled Syria since the campaign began, according to the International Rescue Committee aid group. The Kurdish Red Crescent said on Thursday night that 11 civilians had been killed in the fighting, including an 11-year-old boy in Qamishli. |
| Clashes were reported overnight at different spots along the border, from Ain Diwar at the Iraqi frontier, to Kobani, more than 250 miles (400km) to the west. | Clashes were reported overnight at different spots along the border, from Ain Diwar at the Iraqi frontier, to Kobani, more than 250 miles (400km) to the west. |
| Kurdish officials in al-Hawl camp, where around 400 guards watch over more than 60,000 female members of Islamic State and their children, claimed there were violent demonstrations on Friday morning which they characterised as a failed escape attempt. Such unrest has been frequent in the camp in recent months. | Kurdish officials in al-Hawl camp, where around 400 guards watch over more than 60,000 female members of Islamic State and their children, claimed there were violent demonstrations on Friday morning which they characterised as a failed escape attempt. Such unrest has been frequent in the camp in recent months. |
| The reports of the fighting, as well as concerns over the fate of about 11,000 detained Islamic State fighters and their families fuelled criticism of the Turkish offensive in Washington, where the president is under increasing pressure to lay down red lines for Ankara. | The reports of the fighting, as well as concerns over the fate of about 11,000 detained Islamic State fighters and their families fuelled criticism of the Turkish offensive in Washington, where the president is under increasing pressure to lay down red lines for Ankara. |
| Trump’s abrupt decision on Sunday to clear US soldiers from the Turkish-Syrian border in effect gave Turkey a green light to attack the US-backed and Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). It has led to withering criticism from his allies in Congress, the evangelical movement and Israel. | Trump’s abrupt decision on Sunday to clear US soldiers from the Turkish-Syrian border in effect gave Turkey a green light to attack the US-backed and Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). It has led to withering criticism from his allies in Congress, the evangelical movement and Israel. |
| Trump said on Thursday that he hoped he could mediate between Turkey and the SDF but kept open the possibility of doing “something very, very tough with respect to sanctions and other financial things” against Ankara. | Trump said on Thursday that he hoped he could mediate between Turkey and the SDF but kept open the possibility of doing “something very, very tough with respect to sanctions and other financial things” against Ankara. |
| A senior US official told the Guardian on Thursday that certain Turkish actions could trigger sanctions. | A senior US official told the Guardian on Thursday that certain Turkish actions could trigger sanctions. |
| “[Such actions] would include ethnic cleansing,” the official said. “It would include, in particular, indiscriminate artillery, air and other fire directed at civilian population. That is what we’re looking at right now. We have not seen significant examples of that so far.” | “[Such actions] would include ethnic cleansing,” the official said. “It would include, in particular, indiscriminate artillery, air and other fire directed at civilian population. That is what we’re looking at right now. We have not seen significant examples of that so far.” |
| The French foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, has called for an emergency meeting of the coalition of more than 30 countries created to fight Isis. France’s European affairs minister said next week’s EU summit would discuss sanctions on Turkey over its action in Syria. | The French foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, has called for an emergency meeting of the coalition of more than 30 countries created to fight Isis. France’s European affairs minister said next week’s EU summit would discuss sanctions on Turkey over its action in Syria. |
| The SDF remained in control of the camps and prisons holding Isis detainees and their families, a US state department official said. | The SDF remained in control of the camps and prisons holding Isis detainees and their families, a US state department official said. |
| Turkish defence officials claim their forces have killed 277 Kurdish militants, a figure that could not be verified. They said one Turkish soldier was killed overnight, the first confirmed casualty on their side. | Turkish defence officials claim their forces have killed 277 Kurdish militants, a figure that could not be verified. They said one Turkish soldier was killed overnight, the first confirmed casualty on their side. |
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| Syria | Syria |
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| Donald Trump | Donald Trump |
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