Turkey backed rebels assert control over Syrian border town

Record ID: 1436611

  • Title: Turkey backed rebels assert control over Syrian border town
  • Date: 14th October 2019
  • Summary: TAL ABYAD, SYRIA (OCTOBER 14, 2019) (REUTERS) EMPTY STREET TURKEY-BACKED SYRIAN REBELS TAKING DOWN KURDISH POSTER REBEL FORCES TAKING DOWN SYRIAN DEFENCE FORCES (SDF) FLAG REBEL FORCES HOLDING SDF FLAG REBEL FORCES, PICK UP TRUCKS IN STREET VARIOUS OF TRUCKS, PEOPLE IN THE TOWN VARIOUS OF REBEL FORCES TAKING DOWN ANOTHER SDF FLAG VARIOUS OF REBEL FORCES REPLACING THE SDF FLAG WITH A FREE SYRIAN ARMY (FSA) FLAG MAN WALKING DOWN AN EMPTY STREET VARIOUS OF VEGETABLE VENDORS OPENING THEIR SHOPS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) TAL ABYAD RESIDENT, MOHAMMED KHAFAJAH, SAYING: "Thank God the situation is good, it's great, and people are starting to come back. The only thing missing is electricity, water and cleanliness. We want the agencies to come here and see how the situation is." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE LINED UP OUTSIDE A BAKERY MEN WORKING WITH DOUGH MAN STACKING BREAD MEN LOOKING THROUGH SHELVES (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) TAL ABYAD RESIDENT, ABDULLAH AZIZ, SAYING: "Thank God the situation is good, the air strikes have stopped, and nothing is happening, we have restarted the ovens, the shops are reopening, and everything is good, thank God." REBEL FORCES STOPPING A TRUCK TRUCK CARRYING CIVILIANS DRIVING ALONG STREET
  • Embargoed: 28th October 2019 15:59
  • Keywords: Syria confict Turkey Syria Turkey Turkey backed rebels assert control Syria
  • Location: TAL ABYAD, SYRIA
  • City: TAL ABYAD, SYRIA
  • Country: Syria
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
  • Reuters ID: LVA001B12MB7R
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Residents of the Syrian town of Tal Abyad said on Monday (October 14) that the situation in their town had calmed down, after several days of violence during the ongoing Turkish-led campaign in the country's northeast.
    Turkey launched a cross-border operation against the YPG militia in northeastern Syria last week, after U.S. President Donald Trump decided to withdraw forces from two posts in the area in a move that drew strong international criticism.
    Tal Abyad was captured by Turkish-backed rebel forces from Kurdish control, and the fighters were seen replacing the yellow Syrian Defence Forces (SDF) flag with the Free Syrian Army flag.
    Residents say the situation in their city is calm, but that services such as electricity and water were yet to be available.
    Turkey's stated objective is to clear its southern frontier region of the YPG, which it views as a terrorist organisation, and form a "safe zone" 30 km (20 miles) into Syrian territory where it wants to settle millions of Syrian refugees. Ankara also pledged to take responsibility for IS militants within the "safe zone", but said it would not be accountable for others.
    (Production: Mahmoud Hasano, Bushra Shakhshir, Louisa Naks)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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