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World / Middle East

Turkey masses troops near Kurdish-held Syrian town

Published: 23 Dec 2018 - 03:56 pm | Last Updated: 06 Nov 2021 - 04:42 pm
A pictures shows a Turkish military convoy in Kilis at the Syria border, on December 22, 2018.  AFP

A pictures shows a Turkish military convoy in Kilis at the Syria border, on December 22, 2018. AFP

AP

BEIRUT:  A Syrian war monitor and Turkish media say Turkey is massing troops near a town in northern Syria held by a U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led force.

Turkey said it would delay a promised offensive in Syria following U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. troops.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to dislodge the Kurdish fighters, who Turkey views as an extension of the insurgency within its borders. The U.S. had partnered with the Syrian Kurdish militia to drive out the Islamic State group.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the reinforcements were sent to the front line with Manbij, where U.S. troops have been based. The Turkish IHA news agency reported Sunday that a convoy of Turkish troops had been sent into Syria overnight.