Assad troops enter northern towns to confront offensive

Turkey says military campaign is targeting SDF’s main Kurdish fighting force which it says is aligned with outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party.

Turkey’s offensive into Kurdish-held territory escalates.

Syrian government forces appear to be positioning themselves for a direct confrontation with Turkish troops with reports that they are due to advance towards the city of Manbij.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has indicated the offensive will intensify in the coming days.

Al Jazeera’s Charles Stratford reports.