- Title: Turkish-backed Syrian rebel forces advance into border town
- Date: 13th October 2019
- Summary: TEL ABYAD, SYRIA (OCTOBER 13, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF TRUCKS AND TANKS CARRYING SYRIAN REBEL FIGHTERS LEAVING BASE VEHICLES CARRYING REBEL FIGHTERS DRIVING NEAR FOUNTAIN IN TOWN CENTRE REBEL FIGHTERS SITTING AT FOUNTAIN IN TOWN CENTRE REBEL FIGHTERS ON BACK OF VEHICLE STOPPING AND SPEAKING WITH CIVILIANS TANK CARRYING SOLDIERS DRIVING IN TOWN CENTRE SMOKE RISING IN DISTANCE TANK DRIVING ON STREET VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF EMPTY BUILDINGS TRUCK CARRYING REBEL FIGHTERS DRIVING AWAY / REBEL FIGHTERS SITTING BY FOUNTAIN (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN REBEL COMMANDER, MAAMOUN AHMED, SAYING: "In the name of God the most gracious most merciful, thank god the lord of the world. Today, the Free Syrian National Army, as part of the operation 'East of the Euphrates', we have liberated Tel Abyad completely and thank God for the safety of the fighters, and of course thanks to the help from our Turkish brothers." SYRIAN REBEL FIGHTERS ON BACK OF VEHICLES VARIOUS OF CIVILIANS SITTING OUTSIDE BUILDING
- Embargoed: 27th October 2019 17:41
- Keywords: Turkey Syria Tel Abyad Syrian rebels Turkish forces border town rebel fighters
- Location: TEL ABYAD, SYRIA
- City: TEL ABYAD, SYRIA
- Country: Syria
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA001B0XKSW7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Turkish-backed Syrian rebel forces said they had "liberated" the town of Tel Abyad with the help of Turkish forces on Sunday (October 13).
Tel Abyad is on the Syrian border, and one of the main focal points of the Turkish offensive that began on Wednesday (October 9) against the Kurdish YPG militia, the main component of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said Turkey and its allies were in almost complete control of the town.
Reuters footage showed soldiers walking around and driving tanks in the town centre that appeared largely deserted by its previous residents.
Earlier, President Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey's military and its Syrian rebel allies would advance 30-35 km (19-22 miles) into Syrian territory in their offensive against Kurdish militia and they have already seized control of the town of Ras al Ain.
More than 130,000 people have been displaced from rural areas around Tel Abyad and Ras al Ain as a result of the fighting, the United Nations said on Sunday.
(Production: Mahmoud Hasano, Tarek Fahmy) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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