The United States is withdrawing all remaining American troops from northern Syria. President Trump has ordered this. He wants to prevent American Special Forces from becoming involved in the fighting between the Turkish army and Kurdish militias.
The situation at the front is worsening by the hour. According to the Pentagon, the situation for US soldiers is untenable. Earlier, the US had already withdrawn a small number of troops from the town of Ain Issa, which has been bombarded for days by Turkish fighter jets.
Kurdish forces now report that at least 785 people have escaped from a Syrian prison in that village. This group reportedly includes women and their children affiliated with Islamic State, as well as approximately one hundred IS fighters.
US Defense Secretary Esper said that US troops could in no way have stopped the Turkish offensive. Around 1,000 American soldiers remain in Syria, mostly in the north of the country. When they will leave is not yet clear.
According to the US, the SDF fighters led by Kurds are now seeking support from Russia and the Syrian regime. They reportedly have asked them for help in repelling the Turkish army. Turkey has 15,000 troops deployed at the Syrian border, supported by air power.
Among reports of casualties, there are also accounts of Kurdish journalists killed. ANHA correspondent Seed Ehmed died after the Turkish army attacked a civilian convoy en route to Serêkaniyê. Four journalists were injured, three of whom have since died.
The three other journalists are ANF correspondent Ersin Çaksu and journalists Bircan Yıldız and Rojbin Ekinci.