President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Sunday that Turkey and its Free Syrian Army (FSA) allies have entered Afrin in northwestern Syria. Ankara began its siege on the city several weeks ago to dislodge US-backed Kurdish forces that it considers to be terrorists. A spokesman for the FSA said the fighters met no resistance when they entered Afrin before dawn on Sunday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said pockets of Kurdish militants were defying orders to withdraw and clashes continue in some parts of the city. Turkish and FSA forces reportedly control about half the town. Read More
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Assad visits Eastern Ghouta as regime forces advance
Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad visited the Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta on Sunday for the first time in years as regime forces continue to advance after splitting the rebel-held enclave in three. According to state media, Assad congratulated troops and met thousands of displaced civilians. The visit comes as the regime has recaptured 80% of Eastern Ghouta, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Opposition sources said that hundreds of fighters have turned themselves in over the past couple of days. The Assad regime has given the rebels an ultimatum to either leave Eastern Ghouta for opposition-held areas away from the capital or join local pro-government militias. More than 3,500 people have left the besieged enclave, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. Read More