Syria says Turkish forces, allies attacked government troops, Kurds

Turkish forces and their allies reportedly attacked Syrian government troops in northeastern Syria Thursday, as well as Kurdish forces, The Associated Press reports.

SANA, Syria’s state-run news agency, reported that Turkish troops and its allied fighters had attacked Syrian army positions outside the town of Tal Tamr, resulting in Syrian casualties, according to AP.

The news agency also reported that the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said three of its fighters were killed while fighting Turkish-backed forces.

The reported fighting comes even as all sides have said they will abide by a cease-fire following a Russian-Turkish agreement carving up part of the border region between Turkey and Syria.

The agreement stipulates that that Turkish and Syrian forces will patrol part of the border region, with the goal of keeping the SDF from moving back into the area.

Mazloum Abdi, a commander leader of the SDF forces, tweeted that Turkish troops and “their jihadists continue to VIOLATE and launch attacks,” according to the AP.

Turkey’s Defense Ministry reported that Syrian Kurdish forces attacked Turkish troops in Ras al Ayn, wounding five soldiers. The ministry said its military responded “within the framework of self-defense,” without elaborating, according to AP.