Syrian rebels said they were ready to join Turkish troops in an offensive against Kurdish YPG fighters in northern Syria.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara would launch military operations along its southern borders to seize largely Arab populated towns and villages held by Kurdish-led forces.
Now two senior commanders said orders were given to heads of units of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army to take an offensive stance as the Turkish military steps up mortar shelling and drone strikes in territory the YPG controls, Reuters reported.
“Readiness can happen in a day or two. There are thousands of fighters ready to participate alongside the Turkish military,” Capt Abdul Salam Abdul Razak, a Syrian opposition commander told Reuters.
Turkey has conducted three incursions into northern Syria since 2016, seizing hundreds of kilometres of land and pushing about 30 kilometres into the country, in operations against mainly the US-backed Syrian Kurdish YPG militia.
The country, which regional intelligence sources said has at least 18,000 troops in Syria, said the YPG is linked to an insurgency in Turkish territory.
Two main goals are Tal Rafaat, a town where thousands of Arabs have been displaced, and Kobani, a Kurdish majority city, the capture of which would allow Turkey to link the towns of Jarablus and Tal Abyad it now controls, a Syrian opposition military officer said.
Turkey last week dismantled parts of a concrete wall near Kobani which it had built along the 911 kilometre border with Syria, in a move to push forces into the border town, two rebel sources said.
Operation could be postponed until 'further notice'
But a senior opposition commander in touch with Turkish military said the operation could be postponed until “further notice”.
Mr Erdogan's promise of an incursion coincides with Turkey raising stakes in its dispute with Nato partners over Finland and Sweden's application to join the alliance.
The US has expressed concern at any new offensive in northern Syria, saying it would undermine regional stability and put US troops at risk.
A YPG source told Reuters at least several thousand troops have been sent to Kobani and other threatened towns.
“All options are open in the next few days,” the source said.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said on Sunday they were taking “the necessary measures” to confront a potential invasion.
The YPG, which sought Russia's help to halt a Turkish advance in an earlier incursion, recently conducted patrols near the frontline with Turkish-backed rebels, the source said.
Russia was sending more military flights to Qamishli airport, where the YPG has left under Syrian army control although the city itself is under its control, another Kurdish source said.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tales of Yusuf Tadros
Adel Esmat (translated by Mandy McClure)
Hoopoe
RESULT
Arsenal 0 Chelsea 3
Chelsea: Willian (40'), Batshuayi (42', 49')
Young women have more “financial grit”, but fall behind on investing
In an October survey of young adults aged 16 to 25, Charles Schwab found young women are more driven to reach financial independence than young men (67 per cent versus. 58 per cent). They are more likely to take on extra work to make ends meet and see more value than men in creating a plan to achieve their financial goals. Yet, despite all these good ‘first’ measures, they are investing and saving less than young men – falling early into the financial gender gap.
While the women surveyed report spending 36 per cent less than men, they have far less savings than men ($1,267 versus $2,000) – a nearly 60 per cent difference.
In addition, twice as many young men as women say they would invest spare cash, and almost twice as many young men as women report having investment accounts (though most young adults do not invest at all).
“Despite their good intentions, young women start to fall behind their male counterparts in savings and investing early on in life,” said Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz, senior vice president, Charles Schwab. “They start off showing a strong financial planning mindset, but there is still room for further education when it comes to managing their day-to-day finances.”
Ms Schwab-Pomerantz says parents should be conveying the same messages to boys and girls about money, but should tailor those conversations based on the individual and gender.
"Our study shows that while boys are spending more than girls, they also are saving more. Have open and honest conversations with your daughters about the wage and savings gap," she said. "Teach kids about the importance of investing – especially girls, who as we see in this study, aren’t investing as much. Part of being financially prepared is learning to make the most of your money, and that means investing early and consistently."
23-man shortlist for next six Hall of Fame inductees
Tony Adams, David Beckham, Dennis Bergkamp, Sol Campbell, Eric Cantona, Andrew Cole, Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba, Les Ferdinand, Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard, Roy Keane, Frank Lampard, Matt Le Tissier, Michael Owen, Peter Schmeichel, Paul Scholes, John Terry, Robin van Persie, Nemanja Vidic, Patrick Viera, Ian Wright.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
List of officials:
Referees: Chris Broad, David Boon, Jeff Crowe, Andy Pycroft, Ranjan Madugalle and Richie Richardson.
Umpires: Aleem Dar, Kumara Dharmasena, Marais Erasmus, Chris Gaffaney, Ian Gould, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Nigel Llong, Bruce Oxenford, Ruchira Palliyaguruge, Sundaram Ravi, Paul Reiffel, Rod Tucker, Michael Gough, Joel Wilson and Paul Wilson.
Who is Allegra Stratton?
- Previously worked at The Guardian, BBC’s Newsnight programme and ITV News
- Took up a public relations role for Chancellor Rishi Sunak in April 2020
- In October 2020 she was hired to lead No 10’s planned daily televised press briefings
- The idea was later scrapped and she was appointed spokeswoman for Cop26
- Ms Stratton, 41, is married to James Forsyth, the political editor of The Spectator
- She has strong connections to the Conservative establishment
- Mr Sunak served as best man at her 2011 wedding to Mr Forsyth
