Ankara confirms attacks on Kurdish areas in northern Syria

Turkish Prime Minister and leader of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Ahmet Davutoglu delivers a speech during AK Party. AFP

Here is a round-up of global news developments:

  • Ankara has confirmed that Turkish forces targeted Kurdish fighters in northern Syria. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the attacks were in response to Syrian army fire on a military guard post in Turkey’s southern Hatay region. Davutoglu also said Kurdish fighters must withdraw from a border area in Syria’s Aleppo.
  • The Syrian army makes more advances in the north, retaking several strategic areas near Aleppo. The new gains will allow troops to target the last supply route of the terrorists from Turkey. Syrian troops, backed by Russian air power, are also advancing towards the ISIL-stronghold of Raqqah.
  • Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accuses the Syrian opposition of violating the Security Council resolution by setting pre-conditions for talks with Damascus. He said a Syria ceasefire is more likely to fail than succeed. Moscow also says tensions between Russia and the West have created a new Cold War.
  • France has rejected the idea of a permanent quota system for distributing refugees in European countries. Prime Minister Manuel Valls said Paris will only settle the 30-thousand refugees it has promised. European countries are at odds over dealing with the refugee crisis, rooted mainly in the Syria war.
  • Chancellor Angela Merkel has pleaded with German voters to show patience with her open-door refugee policy ahead of crucial state elections. Merkel has been under pressure as anger builds over a record influx of asylum seekers. The right-wing anti-refugee party, A-F-D, has gained support in recent weeks.
  • Thousands of Greek farmers have rallied for a second day in Athens against planned pension reforms. The ruling Syriza party seeks to cut the state-guaranteed pensions by half. Greece is under pressure from its lenders including the European Union to impose drastic cuts in return for rescue funds.
  • Iran is loading 4 million barrels of oil for shipment to France, Russia and Spain. This will be the first crude delivery to European buyers since the sanctions were lifted last month. Two million barrels of the cargo will be delivered to French energy giant Total.
  • Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff stresses that the Rio Olympic Games will go ahead as planned despite concerns over the spread of the Zika virus. An estimated one-point-5 million people in Brazil could be infected with the mosquito-borne virus. Zika cases have also been identified in Europe and North America.

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