Defying NATO Allies, Turkey Says it Rejects Syria Cease-Fire

AKCAKALE, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s president says he won’t halt its military offensive in northeast Syria, despite growing pressure and sanctions from NATO allies. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s comments came as Washington, which has announced limited sanctions on Turkey, said U.S. Vice President Mike Pence will travel to Ankara Wednesday to try and reach a…

Iran urges Turkey No To Go Ahead With Attack On Syrian Kurds

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran has joined the chorus of criticism of President Donald Trump’s decision to abandon Syrian Kurdish fighters ahead of an expected Turkish incursion into northeastern Syria. Iranian state TV reported on Tuesday that Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, to express Tehran’s opposition to the anticipated…

Israeli Official Confirms Syria Airstrikes As Russia Objects

By JOSEF FEDERMAN and NATALIYA VASILYEVA , Associated Press JERUSALEM (AP) — An Israeli security official on Wednesday confirmed responsibility for overnight airstrikes in Syria, saying the air force had hit a series of targets involved in Iranian arms transfers to the Hezbollah militant group. Russia had criticized the airstrike, saying it endangered civilian flights.…