Civilians Flee Syrian Border Towns as Turkish Offensive Begins

Syrians were forced to flee on foot and by car from border towns as Turkey launched a military operation against Kurdish fighters in Syria, Wednesday, October 9, as seen in news footage. 

Turkey Wednesday began a military operation in northern Syria against Kurdish fighters, days after the United States announced it was withdrawing troops from the area. The U.N. refugee agency earlier warned that a proposed safe zone along the Turkish-Syrian border would not protect civilians.

The UNHCR says it is concerned by the prospect of a so-called safe zone along Turkey’s border with a Kurdish-held enclave in northeastern Syria. The idea was originally proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump and has been embraced by his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.