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More Turkish Tanks Roll Into Syria to Support Anti-IS Rebels


Turkish army tanks and armored personnel carriers move toward the Syrian border, in Karkamis, Turkey, Aug. 25, 2016. Ankara on Saturday launched a second incursion into Syria in as many weeks.
Turkish army tanks and armored personnel carriers move toward the Syrian border, in Karkamis, Turkey, Aug. 25, 2016. Ankara on Saturday launched a second incursion into Syria in as many weeks.

Turkey has sent more tanks into the northern Syrian village of al-Rai from Kilis province to support Syrian rebels fight Islamic State, Turkish media reported.

At least 20 tanks, five armored personnel carriers, trucks and other armored vehicles crossed the border, marking Turkey’s second incursion since it launched the so-called "Euphrates Shield" operation along with Free Syrian Army units on August 24.

Since then, rebels have been seizing villages along the Turkish border near Jarablus and the western Cobanbey district from IS, the reports said.

The Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army units have also been fighting U.S.-backed Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG).

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday that terrorism is a long-term issue for discussion by members of the Group of 20 nations gathering in China's Hangzhou coastal city for their 2016 summit.

China's President Xi Jinping (R) greets Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of a G-20 summit Sept. 3, 2016 in Hangzhou, China. Erdogan is expected to urge world leaders at the meeting to put terrorism high on its agenda.
China's President Xi Jinping (R) greets Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of a G-20 summit Sept. 3, 2016 in Hangzhou, China. Erdogan is expected to urge world leaders at the meeting to put terrorism high on its agenda.


Turkey's top priorities since the G-20 summit in Turkey last year have been the refugee crisis and counterterrorism, Erdogan said in an interview with the Chinese broadcaster CCTV, adding that a principled stance against all terrorist groups is needed.

Erdogan arrived Saturday in Hangzhou for the G-20 summit and was greeted by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

He also had a closed-door meeting with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.

His trip comes after he defeated an attempted coup by members of the Turkish military on July 15.

Erdogan did not directly address the failed coup, saying that he welcomed the summit's focus on investment and innovation. China is Turkey's third-largest trading partner.

Erdogan is expected to meet with President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the gathering.

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