Turkey Launches Air Strikes Against U.S. Backed Kurdish Fighters Battling The Islamic State In Syria And Iraq

Washington Post: Turkey expands strikes against Kurdish militants in Syria and Iraq

IRBIL, Iraq — Turkey stepped up its bombing campaign Tuesday against Kurdish militants outside its borders, killing as many as 20 U.S.-backed fighters in Syria and expanding its strikes in Iraq, an escalation that could complicate efforts to combat the Islamic State.

The predawn raids drew swift rebukes from the United States and Iraq, which accused Turkey of not properly coordinating the strikes. The government of the Iraqi region of Kurdistan described the strikes as “painful and unacceptable” after five of its peshmerga fighters were killed in an apparent misfire.

The Turkish military said the raids targeted “terrorist hotbeds” and supply routes used by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to smuggle ammunition, arms and explosive material into Turkey, where it is waging an insurgency.

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WNU Editor: No kidding .... US 'deeply concerned' after Turkey bombs allies in Iraq and Syria (CNN).

More News On Turkey Launching Air Strikes Against U.S. Backed Kurdish Fighters Battling The Islamic State In Syria And Iraq

Turkish jets strike Kurdish fighters in Syria, Iraq's Sinjar -- Reuters
Turkey strikes Kurds in Iraq, Syria, drawing condemnation -- AP
Turkey air strikes on Kurds in Syria and Iraq spark US concern -- BBC
Turkish airstrikes kill US-backed Kurdish forces battling ISIS -- CNN
Turkish jets bomb US-backed forces in Iraq, Syria, US officials say -- FOX News
Turkey launches airstrikes against U.S.-backed Kurds in Iraq, Syria -- Washington Times
Turkish strikes kill Kurdish fighters in Syria, Iraq -- AFP
Turkey targets Kurdish fighters in Iraq and Syria -- Al Jazeera
Turkey bombs Kurdish-held areas in Iraq & Syria, says ‘terrorists’ targeted -- RT
Kurds call on US to set up no-fly zone after Turkish attacks -- Al-Monitor