The predicted bloodbath unfolds. Wapo does an excellent summary of the current situation.
TRIGGER WARNING: video of civilians executed.
Thousands of civilians have fled their homes on both the Syrian and Turkish sides of the border, with the United Nations reporting Thursday that at least 70,000 Syrians were already displaced from their homes because of the latest escalation in the conflict. The Kurdish side said at least 10 civilians had been killed by Thursday evening, and local Turkish officials said at least six were dead on their side. In Turkey, one 9-month-old infant was among the dead. Erdogan, meanwhile, said that Turkish forces had killed at least 170 “terrorists,” which has not been independently confirmed.
On Saturday, the official SDF Twitter account stated that more than 200 people had been killed and wounded since Wednesday. “Today we are fighting on two fronts, one against the Turkish invasion and one against the ISIS mercenaries,” the group said.
Turkish forces clashes with Kurds for control of the Syrian border town of Ras al-Ayn on Saturday, as they attempt to establish a Turkish-controlled area on the Syrian side of the border. The Turkish Defense Ministry said Saturday that the town had been “brought under control” but the SDF denied that claim, and said clashes were ongoing.