Stars and Stripes/Washington Post: Turkey's offensive in Syria runs into problems: mountains and mud
ANTAKYA, Turkey — A Turkish offensive against Kurdish fighters has bogged down in the mountains and mud of northern Syria as troops encounter an adversary well accustomed to the terrain.
The Turkish military lost its advantage in the skies over the border area for much of this week after Russian forces restricted access to the airspace, according to a Western diplomat and Syrian rebels backed by the Turks. Without air cover, the lightly armed Syrian rebels, who are doing most of the fighting in the three-week-old Turkish offensive, have found it hard to advance.
Saturday was the deadliest day yet with Turkish media reporting the death of eleven servicemen.
"We are still making progress but not as fast as we did before," said Majd Mahsoun, a fighter with the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army. "It's been a tough fight."
Read more ....
WNU Editor: The Turkish offensive's problems in Syria are about to get worse .... Assad quietly aids YPG against Turkey (Al Jazeera). More here .... Friend or foe? Assad quietly aids Syrian Kurds against Turkey (Reuters).
More News On Turkey's Military Offensive In Syria
11 Turkish soldiers killed, 11 injured in Afrin - UPDATED -- APA
11 Turkish troops killed in deadliest day of Kurdish offensive -- AFP
Turkish Military Says Another Soldier Killed in Syria -- AP
Turkish helicopter shot down by Kurdish militia in Syria's Afrin - Erdogan -- Reuters
Propaganda machines on full speed in northern Syria conflict -- France 24
