Turkish soldiers are pictured in a village near the Turkish-Syrian border in Hatay province, Turkey January 24, 2018. "Those who support the terrorist organisation will become a target in this battle," Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said. Washington has angered Ankara by providing arms, training and air support to Syrian Kurdish forces that Turkey views as terrorists.The Kurdish-led autonomous administration that runs Afrin on Thursday called on the Syrian government to defend its border with Turkey in Afrin despite Damascus' stance against Kurdish autonomy. It suspects the Kurds of wanting independence in the long-run and does not recognise the autonomous cantons they have set up in northern Syria.U.S. Washington sees the YPG as an effective partner in the fight against Islamic State in Syria.Turkey said the United States had proposed a 30 km (19 mile) "safe zone" along the border.

Source: Egypt Today January 25, 2018 20:15 UTC