On Tuesday, pro-government militias advanced toward the city of Afrin, in northwestern Syria, in an attempt to join Kurdish militias defending the enclave from Turkish troops advancing from the north. Turkish jets and artillery bombarded the approaching forces, forcing them to retreat, the Turkish government said. The government’s move against Turks and their allied militias threatened to unravel months of diplomatic efforts among Russia, Turkey and Iran to de-escalate the conflict. But it also signaled a new phase of the war with greater potential for direct clashes among outside powers, including Turkey, Russia, Iran and the United States. Advertisement Continue reading the main storyViolence has risen sharply in recent weeks as Russia and the Syrian government pushed offensive operations and Turkey entered the fray.

Source: New York Times February 20, 2018 09:59 UTC