Syria: Islamic State Captures Northern Villages From Turkey-Backed Rebels

Islamic State militants captured several villages from Syrian rebels in a counterattack near the Turkish border that forced foreign-backed insurgents to retreat, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported Oct. 8, Reuters reported. The rebels, whom Turkey has supported with tanks and airstrikes, had been pushing toward the Islamic State stronghold of Dabiq. The Islamic State attack retook villages and pushed toward Turkman Bareh, east of Dabiq. Ankara launched its first major military incursion into Syria in August, deploying tanks and warplanes to support insurgents it backs. The operation has separately targeted Islamic State and Kurdish militants, whose presence along its border Turkey sees as a threat. Turkish attacks against the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) have caused tension with Washington, for whom the YPG has been an effective partner on the ground for its air campaign against the militant group.