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At least 17 civilians, mostly women and children, were killed Thursday when a U.S.-led coalition shelled positions on the outskirts of Syria's eastern Deir ez-Zour province.
Local sources told Anadolu Agency that the shelling had targeted the village of Albo Badran near the Daesh-held town of Al-Sousse.
The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said that all 17 casualties had hailed from the same family.
Most of the slain had been displaced earlier from the nearby town of Al-Baguz, which continues to see fierce fighting between Daesh and the PYD/PKK terrorist group.
Earlier this week, at least 20 civilians in the same province were killed by coalition airstrikes.
Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected ferocity.
Security in Afrin, which was purged of the YPG/PKK terrorist group following Turkey’s Operation Olive Branch, is being provided by a “Syria Task Force” affiliated with the Turkish Police Special Operations Department.Anadolu Agency reporters on Thursday videotaped special teams that are training local police forces and providing them with operational assistance.The Syria Task Force is comprised of 12 different teams from the Special Operations Departments from Turkey’s Ankara, Hatay and Gaziantep provinces.Video: Syria Task Force to provide security in AfrinThe Syria Task Force is also participating in high-risk operations.The nascent police organization, which was formed in accordance with the Turkish police, is composed of seven units specialized in counter-terrorism, intelligence, public order, traffic, crime-scene investigations and commandos.Within this framework, Turkish police are providing training and guidance for the new police organization in Afrin.It is hoped that the local police force will become operational once it gains experience in the field.Turkey to continue firm stance on Cyprus, Syria, LibyaTurkish police will also provide training for police units that will operate inside prisons that will soon be established in the district.Special forces will also be deployed at the entrances and exits of highways and critical points in the region.These special forces, with the approval of the local authorities, will personally engage in risky operations.Within the past three months, several suicide attacks have been thwarted by special teams who have also destroyed more than 100 makeshift explosives left by the YPG/PKK terrorist group.Special forces are continuing operations against terrorist elements in the region.Moreover, the Syria Task Force will carry out joint operations with the Turkish Armed Forces and the Turkish intelligence apparatus when necessary.Turkey sends over 3 million textbooks to Syrians
Syria Task Force to provide security in Afrin
Turkey's vice president said Thursday that the country will continue its "righteous and firm" stance on Cyprus, Syria and Libya.Speaking at a ceremony marking the 35th foundation anniversary of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Fuat Oktay said the reason for Cyprus still not reaching solution is the irreconcilable attitude of Greek Cypriots who have adopted insolubility as a maxim."Turkey will continue to display its righteous and firm stance with determination in Cyprus, Syria and Libya," Oktay said.Oktay said TRNC is one of the two founding and equal parts of the island and Turkey will not let Greek Cypriots ignore this fact.Turkey's budget posts $13B deficit in Jan-OctThe Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was declared on Nov. 15, 1983. It is currently recognized only by Turkey as an independent state.The eastern Mediterranean island has been divided since 1974, when a Greek Cypriot coup was followed by violence against the island's Turks, and Ankara's intervention as a guarantor power.Negotiations over Cyprus resumed after a 2004 UN-backed Annan Plan to reunify the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities.The status of the island remains unresolved in spite of a series of discussions that resumed in May 2015.There has been an on-and-off peace process over recent years, the latest failed initiative having taken place in Crans-Montana, Switzerland under the auspices of guarantor countries Turkey, Greece and the U.K., collapsing last year.Turkey's health spend reaches over $38.5B in 2017Turkey sends over 3 million textbooks to SyriansTurkish private sector loans from abroad down in Sept.Turkey's unemployment rate stays at 11.1 pct in Aug.
Turkey to continue firm stance on Cyprus, Syria, Libya
Turkey’s National Education Ministry has sent 3.6 million textbooks to schools in northern Syria, the ministry said Thursday.The books were delivered to a logistics center run by Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) in Choban Bayk, or also known as al-Rai, a small town in Aleppo province.Some 360,000 students from primary, secondary and high schools will use the textbooks, which include Arabic and English grammar books as well as science, math, physics and chemistry books.Price tag for US 'war on terror' pegged at $5.9TThe books will be sent to schools in Afrin, Jarablus, al-Bab, Azaz and Mare districts and Ahtarin town, areas where Turkish forces have conducted two major military operations against terrorist groups YPG/PKK and Daesh.Operation Euphrates Shield, which began in August in 2016 and ended in March 2017, eliminated terrorists along the Syrian border.On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to free Afrin of YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists. On March 18, Turkish troops and the Free Syrian Army liberated the Afrin district center.Video: Turkey sends over 3 million textbooks to Syrians
Turkey sends over 3 million textbooks to Syrians