The Latest Breaking News from Tal Rifaat

Turkish Intelligence Eliminates PKK Official in Aleppo

Turkish intelligence has eliminated a figure from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), the biggest component of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in an operation in northern Syria. Mehmet Yildirim, a senior figure of the PKK group's Syrian wing YPG, was killed in Syria in an operation run by the National…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 20, 2023

Displaced Syrians Fear Turkish Threats Spell New Exodus

Syria's grinding conflict has already uprooted Ahmed Yassin and his family several times, but now they fear a threatened Turkish offensive will force them to flee the muddy camp they call home. The 34-year-old, his wife and two children live in Sandaf in Syria's Aleppo province -- just south of…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Dec 4, 2022

Turkish-backed Syrian forces expect military operation soon

SNA forces say the fight against the SDF in Tal Rifaat and Manbij is a chance for some of their fighters to return home.

Al Jazeera · Jun 10, 2022

Turkey Continues to Amass Forces ahead of Incursion in Northern Syria

Turkey and its allied Syrian National Army continued to amass forces in northern Syria on Thursday ahead of the imminent launch of a Turkish offensive against the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces in Tal Rifaat and Manbij west of the Euphrates River. Turkey continued to send reinforcements to the frontlines in…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Jun 3, 2022

Rocket Attack in Opposition-Held Syrian Town Kills at Least 3

A rocket struck a residential area in a northern Syrian town controlled by Turkey-backed opposition fighters on Wednesday, killing at least three people and wounding others, opposition activist said. Some activists said that the rocket was fired on Tal Abyad by the US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, a claim that…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Jun 1, 2022

Erdogan Says Turkey to Rid Syria's Tal Rifaat, Manbij of 'Terrorists'

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday Turkey will rid northern Syria's Tal Rifaat and Manbij areas of terrorists, confirming the targets of the new incursion for the first time and saying it will continue into other regions. His comments, in a speech to lawmakers from his ruling AK Party,…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Jun 1, 2022

Turkey says Syria military operation to target Tal Rifaat, Manbij

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says military operation will target two cities controlled by the SDF in northern Syria.

Al Jazeera · Jun 1, 2022

Erdogan says Turkey to rid Syria's Tal Rifaat, Manbij of terrorists

President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday Turkey will rid Syria's Tal Rifaat and Manbij areas of terrorists and its planned military operations will gradually continue in other parts of northern Syria.

Reuters · Jun 1, 2022

Turkey Prepares to Expand Safe Zones in Syria Despite US Warnings

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's recent statement led to a dispute with the US concerning the safe zones in Syria. Erdogan on Monday said Ankara would soon launch new military operations along its southern borders to create safe zones 30 km (20 miles) deep to combat what he characterized as…

Asharq Al-Awsat · May 26, 2022

Erdogan's vowed military operation returns spotlight to Syrian border towns

President Tayyip Erdogan's pledge to carry out a new military incursion on Turkey's southern borders has triggered speculation about potential targets, with the Syrian town of Tal Rifaat emerging as a primary goal of any operation.

Reuters · May 25, 2022