US president claims Kurds are 'no angels' and are well protected after Ankara pushes into Syria; says he is fine with Russia filling vacuum after American troop withdrawal

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports government troops in town of Ain Issa; Russian envoy says Ankara and Damascus officials in contact to avoid 'unacceptable' clashes

Turkish ruler tells reporters he urged US president to act in a way befitting 'a strong leader' and stand up to media influence

Turkish leader says quickest way to resolve the conflict is for Kurd militants to lay down their arms and leave Ankara's self-declared 'safe zone' in north of country

'Think about our other allies, Israel, what do they think now — ‘Donald Trump is not true to our allies,'' presidential candidate says in criticism of US troop withdrawal

Criticism of Istanbul grows amid fierce clashes in northern Syria but Erdogan dismisses US proposal to broker a ceasefire, saying sanctions wont halt operation

Pentagon official: 'There'll be ongoing conversations' about how to support Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), despite withdrawing troops from northern Syria

Turkish president dismisses US proposal to broker a ceasefire, says he sanctions will not halt operation to clear region of Kurdish fighters

Desperate for a new protector, the Kurds struck a deal with Russia-backed Assad, whose forces have now begun moving into Kurdish-administered areas to shield them against Turkey

London and Madrid join other major powers in punishing Ankara for its invasion of Kurdish-held area