In pictures: Turkish offensive in northern Syria

Syrian government forces enter the center of Manbij

Turkey pressed ahead with its offensive against the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia in northern Syria on Tuesday despite United States sanctions and calls for it to stop, while Syria’s Russia-backed army moved on the key city of Manbij that was abandoned by US forces.

Turkey sees the YPG as a terrorist off-shoot of Kurdish rebels in its own territory, but Western powers used the Kurdish forces as the main ground force against the Islamic State group.

 

A missile fired by Turkish forces towards the Syrian town of Ras al-Ain. PHOTO: AFP

Turkish side of the border at Ceylanpinar district in Sanliurfa shows smoke rising from the Syrian town of Ras al-Ain. PHOTO: AFP

Turkish army tank driving on a field at the border town Ceylanpinar in Sanliurfa near the Syrian town of Ras al-Ain. PHOTO: AFP

Syrian government forces arrive in the town of Tal Tamr. PHOTO: AFP

Syrian government forces. PHOTO: AFP

Syrian army troops posing with a national flag. PHOTO: AFP

Syrian government soldiers hold up portraits of President Bashar al-Assad. PHOTO: AFP

Syrian man holding a national flag. PHOTO: AFP

Demonstrators carry the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK)'s flag, the Greek flag (C) and the Kurdish flag (R) as they march in the Cypriot capital Nicosia. PHOTO: AFP

Demonstrators carry placards as they march in the Cypriot capital Nicosia to protest against the Turkish offensive. PHOTO: AFP