Turkish tanks and special operations troops backed by U.S. airstrikes have crossed into Syria to attack ISIS forces holding the town of Jarabulus, multiple outlets report. Jarablus, described by CNN as “the last major town held by ISIS on the Syrian-Turkish border,” is located on the banks of the Euphrates River less than a mile from Turkish territory.
At least 54 people were killed this weekend when a suicide bomber who may have been affiliated with ISIS attacked a wedding in southern Turkey. ISIS is also believed to have been responsible for the shooting/bombing attack at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport that killed more than 40 people in June. While Turkey considers ISIS an enemy, it has been hesitant to deploy its full resources against the group because the anti-ISIS alliance also includes Kurdish elements; Turkey has long fought against Kurdish separatist groups within its own borders. Turkey, a NATO member, is also hostile to the Russian-backed Bashar al-Assad regime that continues to fight ISIS.
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is scheduled to meet with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday in Ankara in a move that signals that the U.S.’s military partnership with Turkey will remain strong despite the authoritarian crackdown that has taken place in the country after a coup attempt against Erdogan failed in mid-July.
