Turkish airstrikes resume as allied Syrians take position near al-Bab
Determined to head off further expansion of a contiguous Kurdish-run zone along its borders, Turkey is counting on the rebels it's backing in Syria to take al-Bab.
Syrian rebels mentored by Turkey said they were positioned to launch an assault to drive the Islamic State out of the strategic town of al-Bab today, but it remains unclear whether they will actually throw themselves into what most analysts agree will be a bloody battle.
Pro-government dailies trumpeted the news of the Turkish-backed rebel advance, saying the forces were only 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the mainly Sunni Arab town. But the English-language Daily Sabah quoted a Free Syria Army commander as saying the operation “could take days or weeks.” The commander added, "We will see how reinforced [IS] is in the town.”
