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| ISIS Rears Its Head, Adding to Chaos as Turkey Battles Kurds | |
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| This news story is developing. Check back for updates. | This news story is developing. Check back for updates. |
| CEYLANPINAR, Turkey — The Turkish invasion of Kurdish-held territory in northern Syria raised new fears of a resurgence of the Islamic State on Friday, as five militants escaped from a Kurdish-run prison and the extremist group claimed responsibility for a bomb that exploded in the regional capital. | CEYLANPINAR, Turkey — The Turkish invasion of Kurdish-held territory in northern Syria raised new fears of a resurgence of the Islamic State on Friday, as five militants escaped from a Kurdish-run prison and the extremist group claimed responsibility for a bomb that exploded in the regional capital. |
| As Turkish troops began a third night of airstrikes and ground incursions, Kurdish fighters said they had thwarted a second attempted jailbreak from a detention camp for families of Islamic State members. | As Turkish troops began a third night of airstrikes and ground incursions, Kurdish fighters said they had thwarted a second attempted jailbreak from a detention camp for families of Islamic State members. |
| The moves compounded a mounting sense of turmoil in northeast Syria, where tens of thousands of residents were reported fleeing south. The Turkish government said its troops had advanced five miles inside part of the country. Several major roads have been blocked and a major hospital abandoned. | The moves compounded a mounting sense of turmoil in northeast Syria, where tens of thousands of residents were reported fleeing south. The Turkish government said its troops had advanced five miles inside part of the country. Several major roads have been blocked and a major hospital abandoned. |
| Since Wednesday, Turkish forces have pummeled Kurdish-held territory with airstrikes and sent in ground troops, in an effort to seize land controlled by a Kurdish-led militia, the Syrian Democratic Forces. That militia fought alongside United States troops in the recent war against the Islamic State. | Since Wednesday, Turkish forces have pummeled Kurdish-held territory with airstrikes and sent in ground troops, in an effort to seize land controlled by a Kurdish-led militia, the Syrian Democratic Forces. That militia fought alongside United States troops in the recent war against the Islamic State. |
| The campaign began after President Trump suddenly ordered American troops to withdraw from the area, giving implicit approval to Turkey’s long-anticipated attack on the Kurdish-led militia. Mr. Trump’s decision was widely criticized, including by his Republican allies in the United States. | The campaign began after President Trump suddenly ordered American troops to withdraw from the area, giving implicit approval to Turkey’s long-anticipated attack on the Kurdish-led militia. Mr. Trump’s decision was widely criticized, including by his Republican allies in the United States. |
| The White House said Mr. Trump would sign an executive order giving the Treasury Department new powers to punish officials in Turkey — a NATO ally — if the Turkish military targeted ethnic and religious minorities. | The White House said Mr. Trump would sign an executive order giving the Treasury Department new powers to punish officials in Turkey — a NATO ally — if the Turkish military targeted ethnic and religious minorities. |
| “We hope we don’t have to use them,” said Steven Mnuchin, the treasury secretary. “But we can shut down the Turkish economy if we need to.” | “We hope we don’t have to use them,” said Steven Mnuchin, the treasury secretary. “But we can shut down the Turkish economy if we need to.” |
| On Friday afternoon, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey vowed to continue the campaign. | On Friday afternoon, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey vowed to continue the campaign. |
| “The West and the U.S., together they say, ‘You are killing the Kurds’,” said Mr. Erdogan in a speech. “Kurds are our brothers. This struggle of ours is not against Kurds, it is against terror groups.’’ | “The West and the U.S., together they say, ‘You are killing the Kurds’,” said Mr. Erdogan in a speech. “Kurds are our brothers. This struggle of ours is not against Kurds, it is against terror groups.’’ |
| The Turkish government has framed the campaign as a counterterrorist operation because the Kurdish-led militia has close ties with a banned Turkey-based guerrilla movement that has waged a decades-long struggle against the Turkish state. Ankara has promised the fight against the Islamic State will continue. | The Turkish government has framed the campaign as a counterterrorist operation because the Kurdish-led militia has close ties with a banned Turkey-based guerrilla movement that has waged a decades-long struggle against the Turkish state. Ankara has promised the fight against the Islamic State will continue. |
| But the operation has already proved highly disruptive to efforts to keep the Islamic State at bay. The Kurdish militia has diverted soldiers to fight the invasion and ended joint operations with American troops. | But the operation has already proved highly disruptive to efforts to keep the Islamic State at bay. The Kurdish militia has diverted soldiers to fight the invasion and ended joint operations with American troops. |
| The Turkish bombardment has also endangered the security of several Kurdish-run prisons for Islamic State militants, with at least three in the vicinity of ongoing Turkish airstrikes. | The Turkish bombardment has also endangered the security of several Kurdish-run prisons for Islamic State militants, with at least three in the vicinity of ongoing Turkish airstrikes. |
| Since pulling out, American officials have expressed growing concern at the direction the Turkish incursion has taken, with officials warning on Friday that the United States would respond forcefully if Islamic State fighters were allowed to escape from prisons in the area. | Since pulling out, American officials have expressed growing concern at the direction the Turkish incursion has taken, with officials warning on Friday that the United States would respond forcefully if Islamic State fighters were allowed to escape from prisons in the area. |
| On Friday, the Kurdish authorities announced the evacuation of a camp housing 7,000 displaced people and said they were considering moving a second camp that holds relatives of Islamic State fighters. Kurdish forces also released video of a third camp, which they said showed an effort to escape by members of Islamic State families. | |
| A second video, seen by The New York Times, appeared to show prisoners trying to escape a Kurdish-controlled jail after it was hit by an airstrike. | A second video, seen by The New York Times, appeared to show prisoners trying to escape a Kurdish-controlled jail after it was hit by an airstrike. |
| While the Turkish airstrikes have hit targets along most of the 480-kilometer-long Kurdish-held territory, the ground battle has focused on two small but strategically located Syrian border towns, Tel Abyad and Ras al-Ain. | While the Turkish airstrikes have hit targets along most of the 480-kilometer-long Kurdish-held territory, the ground battle has focused on two small but strategically located Syrian border towns, Tel Abyad and Ras al-Ain. |
| Turkish troops and their Syrian Arab allies have captured a cluster of villages around the two towns, which lie in the center of the Kurdish region. The troops have in one place established a front line five miles from the Turkish border, the Turkish vice-president, Fuat Oktay, said on Friday evening, according to Turkish media. | Turkish troops and their Syrian Arab allies have captured a cluster of villages around the two towns, which lie in the center of the Kurdish region. The troops have in one place established a front line five miles from the Turkish border, the Turkish vice-president, Fuat Oktay, said on Friday evening, according to Turkish media. |
| Their presence has prompted 100,000 residents to flee southward, according to United Nations estimates, and forced the evacuation of a major hospital in Tel Abyad that were run by Doctors Without Borders, an international medical charity. A second hospital in Ras al- Ain was also evacuated, according to a separate report by the Rojava Information Center, an information service run by activists in the region. | Their presence has prompted 100,000 residents to flee southward, according to United Nations estimates, and forced the evacuation of a major hospital in Tel Abyad that were run by Doctors Without Borders, an international medical charity. A second hospital in Ras al- Ain was also evacuated, according to a separate report by the Rojava Information Center, an information service run by activists in the region. |
| At least 54 Kurdish-allied fighters have been killed since Wednesday, along with 42 from the Turkish-backed force, according to tolls compiled by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a conflict monitor based in Britain. | At least 54 Kurdish-allied fighters have been killed since Wednesday, along with 42 from the Turkish-backed force, according to tolls compiled by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a conflict monitor based in Britain. |
| Turkish towns north of the border have also been affected, as Kurdish fighters have returned fire with their own mortars. At least 15 civilians have been killed and an entire Turkish border town — Ceylanpinar — has been evacuated, after two girls were killed in a rocket strike Thursday and two more people were seriously wounded Friday. | Turkish towns north of the border have also been affected, as Kurdish fighters have returned fire with their own mortars. At least 15 civilians have been killed and an entire Turkish border town — Ceylanpinar — has been evacuated, after two girls were killed in a rocket strike Thursday and two more people were seriously wounded Friday. |
| Ceylanpinar was largely deserted Friday afternoon, with shops shuttered and only stray dogs and a few men slipping out to chat or buy cigarettes. | Ceylanpinar was largely deserted Friday afternoon, with shops shuttered and only stray dogs and a few men slipping out to chat or buy cigarettes. |
| “Our city is a ghost town,” complained Musa Sahman, 70, who sells a local raw meat delicacy but had no customers. “Our government is fighting for Syria but we don’t have any business.” | “Our city is a ghost town,” complained Musa Sahman, 70, who sells a local raw meat delicacy but had no customers. “Our government is fighting for Syria but we don’t have any business.” |
| But the damage has been far worse on the Kurdish side, where 60 civilians have died since Wednesday, according to the Kurdish Red Crescent. | But the damage has been far worse on the Kurdish side, where 60 civilians have died since Wednesday, according to the Kurdish Red Crescent. |
| Kurdish authorities said shells have reached two Kurdish-controlled displacement camps, one that is seven miles from the Turkish border, the other 20 miles, prompting the officials to move some of their 20,000 inhabitants further to the south. Turkey has said it intends to push about 20 miles into Syria to establish a buffer zone. | Kurdish authorities said shells have reached two Kurdish-controlled displacement camps, one that is seven miles from the Turkish border, the other 20 miles, prompting the officials to move some of their 20,000 inhabitants further to the south. Turkey has said it intends to push about 20 miles into Syria to establish a buffer zone. |
| One of the camps, in Ain Issa, contains hundreds of relatives of Islamic State fighters, and their relocation heightens fears over the effect that the Turkish invasion will have on the fight against the militant group. | One of the camps, in Ain Issa, contains hundreds of relatives of Islamic State fighters, and their relocation heightens fears over the effect that the Turkish invasion will have on the fight against the militant group. |
| President Erdogan has vowed that his forces and their allies will continue to guard any captured Islamic State militants in Kurdish-held prisons. | President Erdogan has vowed that his forces and their allies will continue to guard any captured Islamic State militants in Kurdish-held prisons. |
| Butit is widely feared that the chaos may allow Islamic State fighters to escape captivity. American officials have confirmed that Kurdish militias have abandoned joint counterterrorism operations with their American counterparts, as they prioritize the defense of their land to the north. | Butit is widely feared that the chaos may allow Islamic State fighters to escape captivity. American officials have confirmed that Kurdish militias have abandoned joint counterterrorism operations with their American counterparts, as they prioritize the defense of their land to the north. |
| Though American and Kurdish forces have defeated Islamic State militants in northeastern Syria, the group has sleeper cells in the region that could use the turmoil to retake the land they controlled in the early years of the Syrian civil war. | Though American and Kurdish forces have defeated Islamic State militants in northeastern Syria, the group has sleeper cells in the region that could use the turmoil to retake the land they controlled in the early years of the Syrian civil war. |
| On Friday, a car bomb exploded on a residential street in Qamishli, the de facto capital of the Kurdish-held region — a rare act of terrorism in a city that was relatively free of trouble before the Turkish assault began this week. | On Friday, a car bomb exploded on a residential street in Qamishli, the de facto capital of the Kurdish-held region — a rare act of terrorism in a city that was relatively free of trouble before the Turkish assault began this week. |
| It was the American decision to ally with Kurdish militias that set the stage for Turkey’s invasion this week. | It was the American decision to ally with Kurdish militias that set the stage for Turkey’s invasion this week. |
| By capturing land previously held by the Islamic State, Kurdish fighters were then able to create an autonomous statelet that now spans roughly a quarter of all Syrian territory and is effectively independent of the central Syrian government in Damascus. | By capturing land previously held by the Islamic State, Kurdish fighters were then able to create an autonomous statelet that now spans roughly a quarter of all Syrian territory and is effectively independent of the central Syrian government in Damascus. |
| But this dynamic has been chastening for Syria’s northern neighbor, Turkey, which views the central figures in the autonomous Kurdish region as hostile actors with strong connections to a violent Kurdish nationalist group inside Turkey itself. | But this dynamic has been chastening for Syria’s northern neighbor, Turkey, which views the central figures in the autonomous Kurdish region as hostile actors with strong connections to a violent Kurdish nationalist group inside Turkey itself. |
| “The operation is against a terror group,” Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkey’s foreign minister, said at a news conference on Friday. “You may have an engagement with them in the field — this is not my problem. You give them weapons, you trained them. This is not my problem either.” | “The operation is against a terror group,” Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkey’s foreign minister, said at a news conference on Friday. “You may have an engagement with them in the field — this is not my problem. You give them weapons, you trained them. This is not my problem either.” |
| Since fighting began on Wednesday, Kurdish fighters have returned fire, lobbing mortars at targets just over the Turkish-Syrian border, violence that has killed at least 17 civilians, including four children, in Turkish border towns. | Since fighting began on Wednesday, Kurdish fighters have returned fire, lobbing mortars at targets just over the Turkish-Syrian border, violence that has killed at least 17 civilians, including four children, in Turkish border towns. |
| At least four Turkish soldiers have died in the fighting, according to Turkish officials. | At least four Turkish soldiers have died in the fighting, according to Turkish officials. |
| Twenty-three Kurdish fighters have died, according to the Syrian Democratic Forces, the main Kurdish militia, though Turkey’s Defense Ministry said its troops had killed as many as 342. | Twenty-three Kurdish fighters have died, according to the Syrian Democratic Forces, the main Kurdish militia, though Turkey’s Defense Ministry said its troops had killed as many as 342. |
| Turkey’s military campaign has come hand in hand with a crackdown on criticism inside Turkey itself. | Turkey’s military campaign has come hand in hand with a crackdown on criticism inside Turkey itself. |
| The state-run media authority warned that it would “silence” any outlet deemed to have published material damaging to the offensive. Two editors at separate independent news websites were subsequently briefly detained, their outlets reported. | The state-run media authority warned that it would “silence” any outlet deemed to have published material damaging to the offensive. Two editors at separate independent news websites were subsequently briefly detained, their outlets reported. |
| “We will never tolerate broadcasts that will negatively affect our beloved nation and glorious soldiers’ morale and motivation, that serves the aim of terror, and might mislead our citizens with faulty, wrong and biased information,” the media authority said in a statement. | “We will never tolerate broadcasts that will negatively affect our beloved nation and glorious soldiers’ morale and motivation, that serves the aim of terror, and might mislead our citizens with faulty, wrong and biased information,” the media authority said in a statement. |
| The Turkish incursion has prompted a mixed reaction from the 3.6 million Syrian refugees currently sheltering in Turkey. Some fear that they will end up being deported to the areas recaptured by Turkish forces in northern Syria, despite having no ancestral links there. But others from the specific areas of northern Syria currently under attack said they welcomed the campaign. | The Turkish incursion has prompted a mixed reaction from the 3.6 million Syrian refugees currently sheltering in Turkey. Some fear that they will end up being deported to the areas recaptured by Turkish forces in northern Syria, despite having no ancestral links there. But others from the specific areas of northern Syria currently under attack said they welcomed the campaign. |
| On a hilltop overlooking the Syrian border and the town of Tel Abyad, a lone Syrian man, Mehmet Huseyn, 45, crouched in the shade of a rusting water tank, scanning the horizon for signs of movement. | On a hilltop overlooking the Syrian border and the town of Tel Abyad, a lone Syrian man, Mehmet Huseyn, 45, crouched in the shade of a rusting water tank, scanning the horizon for signs of movement. |
| His brother and family were in his home village, six miles beyond the ridgeline, while he had been working as a farm laborer in Turkey for four years to support his family of seven, he said. | His brother and family were in his home village, six miles beyond the ridgeline, while he had been working as a farm laborer in Turkey for four years to support his family of seven, he said. |
| “Our village is there,” he said. “I am looking in case they leave and we can return home.” | “Our village is there,” he said. “I am looking in case they leave and we can return home.” |
| But it pained him to see more war visited on his home. “Our insides are burning,” he said. “We love land and our country.” | But it pained him to see more war visited on his home. “Our insides are burning,” he said. “We love land and our country.” |
| Carlotta Gall reported from Ceylanpinar and Akcakale, and Patrick Kingsley from Istanbul. Reporting was contributed by Anton Troianovski from Moscow, Ben Hubbard from Erbil, Iraq, and Hwaida Saad from Beirut, Lebanon. | Carlotta Gall reported from Ceylanpinar and Akcakale, and Patrick Kingsley from Istanbul. Reporting was contributed by Anton Troianovski from Moscow, Ben Hubbard from Erbil, Iraq, and Hwaida Saad from Beirut, Lebanon. |