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October 10, 2019

Turkey Launches Ground Offensive in Northern Syria
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Turkey launched an aerial and ground assault Wednesday in northern Syria
targeting Kurdish-controlled areas, just days after President Trump
ordered U.S. troops to fall back from their positions on the
Turkish-Syrian border. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports
at least 16 Kurds have been killed so far. Turkey claims the death toll
is over 100. Fear is also growing the Turkish assault could lead to the
escape of ISIS fighters imprisoned in northern Syria. The New York Times
is reporting the U.S. military has moved several dozen Islamic State
prisoners to more secure locations. The European Union has warned
Turkey's hostilities would "further undermine the stability of the whole
region." The U.N. Security Council is expected to meet later today. On
Wednesday, President Trump described Turkey's assault as a "bad idea"
but defended his decision by saying the Kurds "didn't help us with
Normandy."

President Donald Trump: "Now the Kurds are fighting for their land, just
so you understand. They're fighting for their land. And as somebody
wrote in a very, very powerful article today, they didn't help us in the
Second World War. They didn't help us with Normandy, as an example. They
mention names of different battles."

We'll have more on the Turkish offensive after headlines.