U.S., British citizens join battle against Turkey in Syria's Afrin

The Kurdish Afrin region is being targeted in an assault by the Turkish army.

Fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) stand together in Raqqa, Syria, October 16, 2017.  (photo credit: REUTERS)
Fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) stand together in Raqqa, Syria, October 16, 2017.
(photo credit: REUTERS)
BEIRUT - US, British and German volunteers who have fought Islamic State with Kurdish-led forces in Syria are in the Afrin region to battle a Turkish assault there, an official with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said on Wednesday.
Turkey"s operation in Syria"s Kurdish-controlled Afrin region has "de facto" begun with cross-border shelling. (Reuters)
The Kurdish Afrin region is being targeted in an assault by the Turkish army and Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army groups.
"There was a desire on the part of the foreign fighters who fought in Raqqa and who are fighting in Deir al-Zor to go to Afrin," senior SDF official Redur Xelil told Reuters.
He declined to say when the foreigners had gone to Afrin, but said they numbered in the "tens." "They will wage battles against the Turkish invasion," Xelil said.
"There are Americans, Britons, Germans, different nationalities from Europe, Asia and America," Xelil said.