Syrian war

Syrian troops enter towns in northeast as Erdogan warns of wider offensive

Forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad took up positions Monday in several key towns across northeastern Syria, state media and war monitoring group reported, following a last-minute agreement with local Kurdish fighters to ward off a Turkish offensive. 

Syrian troops reportedly arrived in Ain Issa and Tabqa — on the outskirts of Raqqa — and raised the Syrian flag over government buildings in major cities such as Qamishli and Hasakeh, according to pro-government media. One report, in al-Watan newspaper, said government forces had reached the towns of Kobane, a garrison for Syrian Kurdish militants, and Manbij, where U.S. troops had been stationed. 

The return of Assad’s forces to northeastern Syria marks a stunning reversal for Syrian Kurdish authorities, whose fighters controlled a wide swath of territory and enjoyed U.S. support in their battle against the Islamic State.