Free Republic

Turkey’s Euphrates Shield operation, which entered its 170th day Feb. 11 having seen the loss of 65 Turkish soldiers, is at its most critical juncture. In an operation launched the night of Feb. 7 from Aqil Hill, a dominating feature west of al-Bab, about 1,300 Turkish troops (700 commandos, 400 tank personnel and about 200 special forces) and nearly 2,000 Free Syrian Army fighters took part. Thirteen Turkish soldiers were killed in the operation. Security sources told Al-Monitor that about 800 Islamic State (IS) militants and 10,000 civilians are still in the town center of al-Bab. IS uses these civilians as "live shields," and the Turkish army...

After his Istanbul speech, many commentators suggest that Turkish coup attempt was “staged,” as the President called it a “gift from Allah.”Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lands at Ataturk airport of Istanbul aster coup attempt: “Those who staged a coup attempt will pay the highest price, will answer for this treason.” Erdogan adds that this insurgency “is a blessing from Allah, because it will allow us to purge the military” from mutineers. “I was in Marmaris and they bombed there. They thought I was still there,” says Erdogan, that had vanished from the media the last days as he reportedly...